North American takahē (SciiFii)

The North American takahē (Porphyrio americanum), also known as the American flightless gallinule and the American flightless swamphen, is a species of flightless bird part of the rail family that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relative of the North American takahē is the American purple gallinule, despite its name or appearance resembling the New Zealand takahē. The North American takahē is one of the largest living member of the family Rallidae. Its overall length averages 63 centimeters (25 inches) and its average weight is about 2.7 kilograms (6 lbs) in males and 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs) in females, ranging from 1.8–4.2 kilograms (4.0–9.3 lbs). Its standing height is around 50 cm (20 inches). It is a stocky, powerful bird, with short strong legs and a massive bill which can deliver a painful bite to the unwary. Although a flightless bird, the North American takahē sometimes uses its reduced wings to help it clamber up slopes. Despite being flightless, the North American takahē is a relatively fast runner, with speeds reaching about 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour, due to the many predators native to North America. North American takahē plumage, beaks, and legs show typical gallinule colours. Adult North American takahē plumage is silky, iridescent, and mostly dark-blue or navy-blue on the head, neck, and underside, peacock blue on the wings. The back and inner wings are teal and green, becoming olive-green at the tail, which is white underneath. North American takahē have a bright scarlet frontal shield and "carmine beaks marbled with shades of red". North American takahē are a noisy species. They have a non-directional warning womph call and a loud clowp call. It is territorial and remains in the grassland until the arrival of snow, when it descends to the forest or scrub. It eats grass, shoots, and insects, but predominantly leaves of the many swamp, marshland, temperate forest, boreal forest, and alpine forest grass species. The North American takahē can often be seen plucking a grass stalk, taking it into one claw, and eating only the soft lower parts, which appears to be its favourite food, while the rest is discarded. North American takahē have been known to feed on mallard ducklings and shelduck ducklings. The North American takahē is monogamous, with pairs remaining together from 12 years to, probably, their entire lives. It builds a bulky nest under bushes, shrubs, and scrub, and lays seven to nine buff eggs. The chick survival rate is between 25% and 80%, depending on location. The conservation status of the North American takahē is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American takahē's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii