Weka
Weka | |
---|---|
In the South Island, New Zealand | |
Scientific 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
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The weka, also known as the Māori hen
The weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. As omnivores, they feed mainly on invertebrates and fruit. Weka usually lay eggs between August and January; both sexes help to incubate.
Description
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).[5]
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
Taxonomy and distribution
The common name, "weka", is a
The buff weka (Gallirallus australis hectori)[11] formerly inhabited the eastern districts of the South Island but is now confined to Chatham Island and Pitt Island to which it was introduced in the early 1900s, and where they are widely hunted and eaten in the autumn (due to their status as non-native to the islands).[12]
Reintroduction into
The
Behaviour
Habitat and diet
Weka occupy areas such as forests,
Plant foods include leaves, grass, berries and seeds. Weka are important in the bush as seed dispersers, distributing seeds too large for smaller berry-eating birds.[18] Where the weka is relatively common, their furtive curiosity leads them to search around houses and camps for food scraps, or anything unfamiliar and transportable.[6] They have been known to take shiny objects in particular.[19]
Breeding and nesting
The breeding season varies, but when food is plentiful, weka can raise up to four 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 about four eggs. On average, female weka lay three creamy or pinkish eggs blotched with brown and mauve. Both sexes incubate. The chicks hatch after a month, and are fed by both parents until fully grown between six and ten weeks.[6][7]
Conservation status
Weka are classed as a vulnerable species. The Department of Conservation's weka recovery plan, approved in 1999, aims to improve the conservation status of threatened weka, clarify the status of data deficient weka, maintain the non-threatened status of other weka, and eventually restore all weka to their traditional ranges as a significant component of the ecosystems.[20]
Weka are problematic in conservation; some subspecies are threatened, but have been a problem to other threatened wildlife on offshore islands, especially when introduced to an island that they would not naturally inhabit.[21] Weka are unable to withstand the current pressures faced in both the North Island and South Island. However, they can be very productive in good conditions and high food availability. Year-round breeding has been recorded at several sites with up to 14 young produced in a year. Weka populations can persist in highly modified habitats, but they have disappeared from huge areas of their former range, suggesting that they can adapt to a wide range of conditions but are particularly vulnerable to threats.[20]
Threats
The Department of Conservation identifies eight main threats to weka.
Human interaction
Weka are significant to some Māori iwi (tribes) who admire their curiosity and feisty, bold personality traits which have led to them being relatively easy to catch. Weka were used by the Māori as a source of food, perfume, oil to treat inflammations, feathers in clothing[24] and lures to catch dogs. Early European explorers and settlers frequently encountered and utilised weka; they were called "bush hens".[25]
References
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Māori hen". www.collinsdictionary.com. Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ "Finfoots, flufftails, rails, trumpeters, cranes, Limpkin – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ S2CID 206185218.
- ^ Arkive - Images of Life on Earth. "Facts Weka". Arkive.org. Archived from the original on 2012-04-19. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- ^ a b c "WEKA - 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
- ^ a b Andreas Reischek, 1845–1902 (2009-03-01). "Large forest birds - Weka - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - . Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ Medway, D. G. (2004). "The extant type specimens of birds from New Zealand and the Society Islands collected on Cook's second voyage and described by Anders Sparrman in Museum Carlsonianum (1786-1789)" (PDF). Notornis. 51 (3): 131–135. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-29.
- ^ Newton, Alfred (1911). Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 994–995. . In
- ^ "Holotype and specimens of Gallirallus australis hectori". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ Houston, Dave. "What's the story with weka?". Chatham Islands Community. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ "Specimens of Gallirallus australis greyi". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ ISBN 0-14-026010-2
- ^ "Specimens of Gallirallus australis australis". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ "Weka | New Zealand Birds Online". nzbirdsonline.org.nz. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
- ^ Harper, Grant (2006). "Weka (Gallirallus australis) depredation of sooty shearwater/titi (Puffinus griseus) chicks on Taukihepa (Big South Cape Island)". Notornis. Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "DOC, Facts about Weka". Doc.govt.nz. 2006-08-21. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
- ISBN 978-0-86190-569-0.
- ^ a b "DOC's work with weka: Native land birds conservation". Doc.govt.nz. 2006-08-21. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
- ^ "Facts: Weka: Native land birds: Conservation". Doc.govt.nz. 2006-08-21. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
- ^ "Dog owner prosecuted over weka killing". Nzherald.co.nz. 2009-11-26. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
- ^ "Threats: Weka". Doc.govt.nz. 2006-08-21. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
- ^ "Kahu weka (weka feather cloak)". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-478-21844-2.
External links
- BirdLife Species Factsheet.
- J. Innes; I. Flux (1999). "North Island Weka recovery plan" (PDF). Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. Retrieved 2007-04-18.