LOOKING IN THE SQUARE

Pukeko

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One of my favourite New Zealand birds. The photo was taken at the Hamilton Lake.

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The Pukeko is a wading bird which gets much of its natural food from under the surface of water. These birds can fly, but in Hamilton I have never yet seen one on the wing or up in a tree, though I have in other parts of the country. Perhaps in Hamilton they are just too lazy?

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They are attractive birds with their blue and black colouring and red 'caps' and beaks.