Weka

species of flightless bird

A weka (Gallirallus australis), also known as the Maori hen or woodhen, is a flightless bird in the rail family. It is endemic to New Zealand. There are four subspecies. Weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. They feed mainly on invertebrates and fruit.[2]

Weka
In the South Island, New Zealand
Scientific classification Edit this 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

References change

  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Gallirallus australis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. Gill, Frank B. 2007. Ornithology. New York: Freeman, p. 30.