Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Either of two flightless birds of New Zealand in the rail family, Porphyrio mantelli, which is extinct, and Porphyrio hochstetteri, which is endangered, having a large red bill and brightly colored green and blue plumage.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Alternative spelling of takahē.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun flightless New Zealand birds similar to gallinules

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Maori takahē.]

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Examples

  • The takahe is the largest living member of the rail family and was once thought to be extinct.

    ScreenTalk 2010

  • Now the takahe was not rediscovered until the late 1940's.

    Archive 2007-02-01 2007

  • Glanced again in 1889, Alice thought for years she had seen a takahe.

    Archive 2007-02-01 2007

  • Key fauna protection programs run by the Department of Conservation in the area focus on species present on the predator-free islands, including tuatara, native frogs, kakapo (Strigops habroptilus CR), the endangered takahe (Porphyrio mantelli), and little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii VU).

    Richmond temperate forests 2008

  • The takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) is just one of New Zealand's spectacular endemic birds.

    Biological diversity in New Zealand 2008

  • A few mountain valleys in Fiordland harbor the total wild population (about 170 birds) of the rare and endangered takahe Notornis mantelli (E), a large flightless rail believed extinct until "rediscovered" in 1948.

    Te Wahipounamu (South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area), New Zealand 2008

  • The park is also home to the world's only alpine parrot species, namely kea, as well as the endangered takahe.

    Te Wahipounamu (South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area), New Zealand 2008

  • Deer compete with takahe for food (contributing to loss of condition and chick mortality) and damage their habitat.

    Fiordland temperate forests 2007

  • A takahe chick is recovering at Massey's wildlife ward after surgery to repair its eye.

    ScreenTalk 2010

  • Mitre 10 sponsors the department's takahe programme.

    ScreenTalk 2010

Comments

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  • A large flightless rail--rare and native to New Zealand. Has a green back, blue head, neck, and breast, and stout red bill; inhabits high valleys in the Murchison Mts. Eats coarse vegetation.

    February 11, 2007