The Pukeko is a native of New Zealand, and is also referred to as the Swamp Hen. This one is on the shore of Lake Pupuke. GENERAL: Pukeko are a very characteristic bird of Canterbury swamplands. Pukeko are good swimmers and fast runners but reluctant fliers. GENERAL: Pukeko are a very characteristic bird of Canterbury swamplands. The pukeko is a native bird to NZ and has been here since 1000 AD. It is similar to other species from this family found all over the world. Pukeko are not indigenous to New Zealand, but occur across many South Pacific islands and in Australia, southern Asia, Africa, parts of Europe (Spain and Portugal, for instance), Central America and Florida. Whanganui Regional Museum curator of natural history Mike Dickison is holding a talk on the matter this Thursday and told Jesse Mulligan the distinction between the two isn’t as neat and tidy as we may like to think. The New Zealand native Pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus) is a large, blue-purplish, wetland-dwelling bird. Pukeko are also known as swamp hens and are the most common of New Zealand's six species of the rail family. They have an intricate social structure involving a system of ranking where birds low in the ‘pecking-order’ seldom breed and are often confined to marginal habitat. Handmade from the highly sought after white china clay of Kerikeri, New Zealand. The pukeko is a native bird to NZ and has been here since 1000 AD. This one is on the shore of Lake Pupuke. While many shot birds are not consumed, the pukeko is underrated as table fare. Pukeko on a fencepost Native New Zealand Pukekos on an old fencepost at my place He says some birds that are deemed to be native, for example pukeko and harrier hawks, have no fossil trace before Polynesian settler arrived in NZ. The rail family consists of the takahe, weka, banded rail, spotless crake and marsh crake. Pukeko are held in rueful affection by New Zealanders, with a reputation as a friendly, cheeky bird, they are very territorial. Stay safe and healthy. Farmers and market gardeners consider the Pukeko a pest. Pukeko - Porphyrio porphyrio The rail family consists of the takahe, weka, banded rail, spotless crake and marsh crake. Interesting facts on the Pukeko • The pukeko is a native of New Zealand and is also known as the Swamp Hen • The scientific name is Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus • Despite being clumsy in flight pukeko can fly long distances and are good swimmers, especially considering they don’t have webbed feet. Pukeko may be hunted under license in New Zealand. Farmers and market gardeners consider the Pukeko a pest. Pukeko are capable fliers, as indi­cated by their presence on many off­shore islands around New Zealand. Top Answer. The rail family consists of the takahe, weka, banded rail, spotless crake and marsh crake. It is a member of the rail family along with the Takahe, Weka, Banded Rail, Spotless Crake and Marsh Crake.