A takahë looks similar to its close relative the common pükeko but is much larger with short stout legs and a heavier beak and shield. Its main colours are green and blue rather than black and blue. The takahë is found only in New Zealand while pükeko (or swamp hens) are found throughout the Pacific.

Takahë prefer grassland areas and hold the same territory from year to year, except in Fiordland when the winter snow forces some birds down to nearby subalpine scrub or forest. Some takahë have lived for over 20 years in captivity, but in the wild few would live to more than 15 years of age. 

The extensive areas of alpine grassland in the Murchison Mountains contain many of the preferred food plants of takahë. This has helped takahë survive there. The broad-leaved snow tussock, mid-ribbed snow tussock and curled snow tussock are important food and shelter species for takahë.

Takahë feed throughout the day mainly on the succulent bases of the three important tussock species and the mountain daisy in Fiordland, and on a slightly wider range of grass species on islands. During winter in Fiordland when the birds move down from the alpine grasslands, the summer green fern is the preferred food.

The birds grub up the rhizomes which are rich in stored carbohydrates. Takahë on islands feed on a wide range of introduced grasses, taking the leaves, seeds and roots. Clover is also an important part of their diet. At some times of the year they will grub up and eat the roots of clover.

Takahë usually pair and breed from their second or third year. Nesting in Fiordland begins when the snow clears in October and can continue until late summer. Most clutches hatch by mid-December. Nests are often built under the shelter of large broad-leaved snow tussocks where the pair builds a raised ‘bowl’ of grasses. One or two eggs are laid (very occasionally three). Incubation is shared by both parents and lasts 30 days.

In the wild 80% of the eggs hatch and for the next three months the parents feed the chicks. Usually only one chick will survive through its first winter. Takahë chicks stay with their parents until ë they are a year, or sometimes two years, old.

Research studies have shown that stronger control of deer in the takakë area is important to protect vegetation and maintain food and habitat quality for takahë. In addition, careful monitoring of takahë nests ensures that infertile eggs are removed so that takahë do not waste energy trying to hatch them. Occasionally eggs may be moved between nests to ensure pairs have at least one good egg.

Takahë eggs for the captiverearing programme are sometimes gathered by the taking of whole clutches early in the season. This can usually induce re-nesting and further laying of eggs. Artificial incubation of eggs and rearing of chicks is carried out at the Burwood Captive Rearing Unit near Te Anau. Contact with human caregivers is kept to a minimum and recordings of wild birds are played to the eggs as they hatch.

During the 1980s takahë were translocated to four predator- and competitor-free islands—Maud Island in Marlborough Sounds, Mana and Kapiti islands off the Wellington coast and Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

This group of birds was established from handreared birds from Te Anau Wildlife Centre and
Burwood Rearing Unit, birds bred in captivity at Mt Bruce and Te Anau Wildlife Centre and from production on the islands themselves.

Translocation helps to improve the chances for breeding pairs of birds to establish their own territorial space which is an important pre-requisite to successful breeding.
In 2006 a pair of takahë were also translocated to Maungatautari, a privately funded predator-proofed sanctuary south west of Hamilton..