Gallirallus australis (Weka)

The Weka or woodhen (Gallirallus australis) is an endemic bird of New Zealand. It is a member of the rail family. There are four subspecies.

Wekas are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken: typically around 50 cm tall and weighing around 1 kg. They are omnivores, feeding mainly on invertebrates and fruit, but are also willing to eat seeds, small vertebrates such as rats, birds and lizards. They are also known to scavenge carrion.

Although Wekas can breed all year round, producing up to four broods in a year, they usually lay eggs between August and January. Both sexes help to incubate the eggs.

Wekas were once common throughout New Zealand, but the population in the North Island (subspecies G. a. greyi) has been heavily reduced, chiefly by habitat destruction. The North Island weka is a shy bird. The South Island subspecies are more common, and bolder with a reputation for curiosity approaching that of the Kea. There is also a Canterbury subspecies, the Buff Weka, which has become extinct on the NZ mainland but was introduced to the Chatham Islands some time in the past, and has been very successful over there. There are moves afoot to re-introduce it to Canterbury. Tales of wekas stealing shiny items, and bags of sugar, are also part of New Zealand folklore.

References

• BirdLife International (2006). Gallirallus australis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable