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Story: Wetland birds

Pūkeko kitsch

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Pūkeko kitsch

Pūkeko are a familiar sight to most New Zealanders, and are caricatured or depicted in various ways – emphasising the bird’s bright red bill and forehead shield, its red eyes, long red legs, and large feet.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Melanie Lovell-Smith

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How to cite this page

Christina Troup, Wetland birds – Pūkeko and Australian coots, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14660/pukeko-kitsch (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Christina Troup, published 1 March 2009.