kōkako
1. (noun) kōkako, Callaeas cinerea - a large, dark bluish-grey, rare forest bird of limited flight with a black facial mask, blue wattles (North Island), a short strongly arched bill, long black legs and a long tail. The South Island has orange wattles but is thought to be extinct. Personified in the following example.
(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 172;)
Ko ngā mea i kite ai au ko Kōkako, e kō mai ana i runga i ngā taukahiwi, ko Tīwaiwaka, e tītakataka ana i mua i taku aroaro. (JPS 1913:115). / What I saw were Kōkako singing on the ridges and Tīwaiwaka flitting about in front me.
Synonyms: hōkako
