Rails, Gallinules and Coots (Rallidae)
Weka (Gallirallus australis) - HBW 3, p. 161
French: Râle wéka
German: Wekaralle
Spanish: Rascón Weka
Taxonomy: Rallus australis Sparrman, 1786, Dusky Sound, South Island, New Zealand.
Includes G. troglodytes, now regarded as a black morph of present species. Considerable geographical variation, with up to eight races accepted in past; situation complicated by extensive individual variation. Four subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- greyi (Buller, 1888) - North I.
- australis (Sparrman, 1786) - N & W South I.
- hectori (Hutton, 1874) - formerly E coast and interior of South I but now confined to Chatham Is, where introduced.
- scotti (Ogilvie-Grant, 1905) - Stewart I.
- Vulnerable Enlarge map
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Searching for food by probing among seaweed on tideline. Locality Ulva Island, Stewart Island, New Zealand (ssp scotti)
Neil Robertson 16 May 2006 1 year ago 36 sec 4.7 -
An adult foraging on the forest floor, accompanied by two newly hatched chicks, feeding from what the adult has turned over Locality Ulva Island, Stewart Island, New Zealand (ssp scotti)
Brooke Clibbon 21 December 2005 5 years ago 32 sec 4.3 -
An adult walking along a walkway, drinking from a puddle Locality Ulva Island, Stewart Island, New Zealand (ssp scotti)
Brooke Clibbon 1 December 2005 5 years ago 31 sec 4.3 -
An adult and a chick foraging in leaf litter at the edge of a beach Locality Ulva Island, Stewart Island, New Zealand (ssp scotti)
Brooke Clibbon 21 December 2005 5 years ago 39 sec 4.3 -
An adult foraging in pasture in old cattle dung. Young watches and feeds Locality Kumara, South Island, New Zealand (ssp australis)
Brooke Clibbon 1 December 2005 5 years ago 38 sec 3.9 -
Two adults calling, followed by mutual grooming Locality Ulva Island, Stewart Island, New Zealand (ssp scotti)
Brooke Clibbon 21 December 2005 5 years ago 36 sec 3.8
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Bird crossing the road
Locality Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, South Island, New Zealand
Peter Strauss 31 January 2011 47 weeks ago 4.3 -
A family of wekas on Ulva island.
Locality Ulva Island, Stewart Island, New Zealand (ssp scotti)
Rémi Bigonneau 26 October 2010 12 weeks ago 4.2 -
Feeding
Locality Ulva Island, Stewart Island, New Zealand (ssp Scotti)
Pete George 11 February 2009 1 year ago 3.9 -
A weka near Punakaiki.
Locality Paparoa National Park, South Island, New Zealand (ssp australis)
Rémi Bigonneau 25 December 2010 12 weeks ago 3.9 -
A close-up of a bird in our motel grounds.
Locality Moana, South Island, New Zealand (ssp australis)
Ken Havard 3 November 2008 46 weeks ago 3.8 -
Bird foraging after picnickers had left.
Locality Ship Cove, Picton, South Island, New Zealand (Monotypic species)
Graham Little 29 December 2009 2 years ago 3.8
- No sound recordings available yet
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