Māori hen, Woodhen
The weka (Gallirallus australis) is a flightless bird species of the rail family. It is found only in New Zealand. The common name, "weka", is a Māori word. These birds are significant to some Māori iwi (tribes) who admire their curiosity and feisty. Early European explorers and settlers frequently encountered and utilised weka; they were called "bush hens".
Weka are predominantly rich brown mottled with black and grey; the brown shade varies from pale to dark depending on subspecies. The relatively large, reddish-brown beak is about 5 cm (2.0 in) long, stout and tapered, and used as a weapon. The pointed tail is near-constantly being flicked, a sign of unease characteristic of the rail family. Weka have sturdy legs and reduced wings.
The Weka has four subspecies: the Buff weka is now confined to Chatham Island and Pitt Island; the North Island weka is represented by original populations in Northland and Poverty Bay; the nominate subspecies, the Western weka is found mainly in the northern and western regions of the South Island from Nelson to Fiordland; the Stewart Island weka is confined to Stewart Island/Rakiura and outliers, and to Kapiti Island to which it was introduced. Weka live in forests, sub-alpine grassland, scrub, sand dunes, rocky shores, costal wetlands and modified semi-urban environments.
Weka are flightless and live throughout the year in their territory. They are shy and more often are heard than seen. They feed during the day and at night usually roost in pairs. Where weka are relatively common, their furtive curiosity leads them to search around houses and camps for food scraps, or anything unfamiliar and transportable. They have been known to take shiny objects in particular. Weka communicate with each other using various calls. Their common call sounds like 'ee-wee' and territorial - 'coo-eet'. They also produce whistle-like calls and a soft clucking contact call.
Weka are omnivorous birds. Their diet consists of 30% animal foods and 70% plant foods. Animal foods include earthworms, larvae, beetles, wētā, ants, grass grubs, slugs, snails, insect eggs, slaters, frogs, spiders, rats, mice, and small birds. Plant foods include leaves, grass, berries, and seeds.
Weka are monogamous and form long-lasting pair bonds. Their breeding season varies, but when food is plentiful, weka can raise up to 4 broods throughout the whole year. Nests are made on the ground under the cover of thick vegetation, and built by making grass (or similar material) into a bowl to hold eggs. On average, females lay 3 creamy or pinkish eggs blotched with brown and mauve. Both parents take part in incubation. The chicks hatch after a month and are fed by both parents until fully grown between 6 and 10 weeks.
The main threats to weka include: the predation of adult birds and eggs by ferrets, cats, and dogs; competition with introduced species for food; habitat depletion caused by the modification and degradation of forests and wetlands; drought; in some regions, collisions with motor vehicles; pest control operations such as poison baits and traps. Another serious concern is genetic diversity which can be lost during the transmission of genes through generations, affecting isolated populations.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the weka is 107,000-177,000 individuals or approximately 71,000-118,000 mature individuals. The population of the Western weka subspecies is estimated to be 50,000-100,000 individuals; the North Island weka subspecies - around 11,000 individuals; the Buff weka subspecies - 38,000-58,000 on Chatham and Pitt Islands, and the Stewart Island weka subspecies - fewer than 8,000 individuals on the islands surrounding Stewart Island. Currently, the weka is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
Weka are important in their local ecosystem as seed dispersers, distributing seeds too large for smaller berry-eating birds.
