Weka (Gallirallus australis)

Other Names (World)
Weka, Maori Hen, Kelp Hen, Troglodyte Rail, Weka Rail, Black Woodhen, Brown Woodhen, North Island Woodhen, South Island Woodhen, Black Weka, Brown Weka, North Island Weka, South Island Weka, Stuart Island Weka, Buff Weka, Eastern Weka, Western Weka

Family
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, Coots)

Size
46 - 60 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Sparrman, 1786)

Habitat
Margins of marine, littoral, estuarine and terrestrial wetlands. Woodlands, forests and grasslands. From sea-level - 1,500 m.

Range (Guide)

New Zealand (B) (NB).

Formerly throughout NI, SI, D'Urville and Stewart Islands, New Zealand. Introduced to Chatham and Macquarie Islands.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 120,000 - 187,000 (2010) and decreasing.

Status VU
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Singly, in pairs or family groups. Flightless. Nocturnal.

Food
Omnivorous. Mainly native fruit and invertebrates. Also sometimes vertebrates.

Voice
A repeated shrill whistle 'coo-eet', most often heard at dawn and dusk and in early evening.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (15)...)

Weka (Gallirallus australis) [XC206978]
by Frank Lambert from Port Underwood, Marlborough District, Marlborough, New Zealand (call, aggressive vocalizations)

Weka (Gallirallus australis) [XC198889]
by Johannes Fischer from Abel Tasman National Park, Tasman District, Tasman, New Zealand (begging call)

Subspecies
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:

greyi (Buller, 1888) - North I.
australis (Sparrman, 1786) - Northern and western South I.
hectori (Hutton, FW, 1874) - Formerly eastern coast and interior of South I but now confined to Chatham Is, where introduced.
scotti (Ogilvie-Grant, 1905) - Stewart I.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Weka (Gallirallus australis) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

For more information about the Weka see... Show Articles

BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Articles about the Weka

If you would like to read any articles about the Weka...

Show Articles (0)

No Pictures of Weka

If Birdpedia has no pictures of Weka or you would like to see more, then try the following...

Show External Images from BING

From BING (10)

No Videos of Weka

If Birdpedia has no videos of Weka or you would like to see more, then try the following..

Show External Videos

From BING (0)