Pukeko ... or ... Takahe? Pukeko or takahe - what's the difference? There are many pukeko on Tiritiri Matangi. At first glance they look a bit like the takahe but although they belong to the same family they don't behave or look the same. Pukeko and takahe both feed on grasses as adults Pukeko breed 2 or 3 times in a season with 5 -6 eggs in each clutch, chicks hatch in 24 days and fledge and fly at 12 weeks. The chicks eat small fish/animals in their early years and then turn vegetarian. As an adult, the birds are about 1/2 metre tall - the size of a hen. Takahe breed once a season and only 70 - 80% of the eggs are fertile. Chicks hatch in 30 days and takahe can't fly. Chicks eat insects in their early life and then turn vegetarian. They are 3 years old before they breed. Adult takahe are over 60cm tall and are three times the weight of a pukeko.