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Weka
Gallirallus australis (Sparrman, 1786)
Rallidae — Rails, Crakes & Coots
Weka, Gallirallus australis, is a rail found in New Zealand, including the North, South and Stewart islands and nearby satellites. It belongs to the family Rallidae and was described by Sparrman in 1786. A flightless bird, it is a sturdy rail with reduced wings and strong legs. Its range covers forests, sub-alpine grassland, sand dunes, rocky shores and altered semi-urban places. It is an omnivore, taking both animal and plant food, and it breeds on the ground under dense cover, with both parents sharing incubation.
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Rallidae — Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Breeding range
- Australasia: North, South, Stewart and satellites (New Zealand)
