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Weka

Gallirallus australis

Vulnerable · IUCN Red List

VUVulnerableEndemicOmnivoreForestCavity nestLarge · 876 g
Weka (Gallirallus australis), photo 1
Photo: Gallirallus_australis_1.jpg: Alan Vernon derivative work: Berichard (talk) · CC BY 2.0
Weka (Gallirallus australis), photo 2
Photo: Mike Dickison · CC BY 4.0
Weka (Gallirallus australis), photo 3
Photo: Archives New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
Weka (Gallirallus australis), photo 4
Photo: Ian Dickie · CC BY 4.0
Weka (Gallirallus australis), photo 5
Photo: Ian Dickie · CC BY 4.0
Weka (Gallirallus australis), photo 6
Photo: Tommy Forrest · CC0
Weka (Gallirallus australis), photo 7
Photo: Tommy Forrest · CC0
Weka (Gallirallus australis), photo 8
Photo: Gallirallus_australis_1.jpg: Alan Vernon derivative work: Berichard (talk) · CC BY 2.0
Weka (Gallirallus australis), photo 9
Photo: Mike Dickison · CC BY 4.0
Weka (Gallirallus australis), photo 10
Photo: Archives New Zealand · CC BY 2.0

What the Weka sounds like

Sonogram of the Weka: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by craig wilson · Call · Birchfield, Buller District, West Coast Region, New Zealand · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Weka: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by craig wilson · Begging call, call, duet · Marlborough District, Marlborough, New Zealand · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Weka: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by craig wilson · Call · Marlborough District, Marlborough, New Zealand · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

Weka are large rails. They are predominantly rich brown mottled with black and grey; the brown shade varies from pale to dark depending on subspecies. The male is the larger sex at 50–60 cm (20–24 in) in length and 532–1,605 g (1.173–3.538 lb) in weight. Females measure 46–50 cm (18–20 in) in length and weigh 350–1,035 g (0.772–2.282 lb). The reduced wingspan ranges from 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 in). The relatively large, reddish-brown beak is about 5 cm (2.0 in) long, stout and tapered, and used as a weapon.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Weka

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 10 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Weka

Regular range

The map shades 1 country with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

New Zealand

About the Weka

The weka, also known as the Māori hen or woodhen 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. Four subspecies are recognized but only two (northern/southern) are supported by genetic evidence.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus) Barred RailGallirallus torquatusThe barred rail is a species of rail found across the Philippines, Sulawesi (Indonesia) and Salawati. Lord Howe Woodhen (Gallirallus sylvestris) Lord Howe WoodhenGallirallus sylvestrisThe Lord Howe woodhen is a medium-sized olive-brown rail, with a short tail, downcurved bill, red iris, and chestnut wings. Chestnut Rail (Gallirallus castaneoventris) Chestnut RailGallirallus castaneoventrisThe chestnut rail is a species of bird in the family Rallidae.

Side by side: Buff-banded Rail vs Weka · Lord Howe Woodhen vs Weka

Learn the Weka in the BeakBrain App

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