| Weka | |
|---|---|
| |
| In the South Island, New Zealand | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | Rallidae |
| Genus: | Gallirallus |
| Species: | G. australis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gallirallus australis (Sparrman, 1786)
| |
| |
Geographic range of the weka
| |
The weka, also known as the Māori hen[2] or woodhen (Gallirallus australis) is a flightless bird species of the rail family. It is endemic to New Zealand. Some authorities consider it as the only extant member of the genus Gallirallus.[3] Four subspecies are recognized but only two (northern/southern) are supported by genetic evidence.[4]
The weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. As omnivores, they feed mainly on invertebrates and fruit. Weka usually lay eggs between August and January; both sexes help to incubate.
- ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Gallirallus australis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22692384A131928535. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22692384A131928535.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Māori hen". www.collinsdictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ "Finfoots, flufftails, rails, trumpeters, cranes, Limpkin – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ Trewick, Steve A.; Pilkington, Stephen; Shepherd, Lara D.; Gibb, Gillian C.; Morgan-Richards, Mary (2017). "Closing the gap: Avian lineage splits at a young, narrow seaway imply a protracted history of mixed population response". Molecular Ecology. 26 (20): 5752–5772. Bibcode:2017MolEc..26.5752T. doi:10.1111/mec.14323. PMID 28805283. S2CID 206185218.