Birds
Weka
Gallirallus australis · also called woodhen
Snatching an unattended shiny object from a campsite before vanishing back into the scrub, a weka lives up to its reputation as one of New Zealand’s boldest and most opportunistic birds, a large flightless rail with an appetite for almost anything.
Overview
The weka, Gallirallus australis, is a large, flightless rail native to forest and grassland habitat across various parts of New Zealand. Its notorious habit of stealing shiny or unattended objects, extremely varied and opportunistic diet, and strong adaptability across different habitats make it one of the most behaviourally distinctive and widely recognised flightless birds found anywhere in New Zealand.
A curious kind of thief
The weka’s reputation for pilfering small objects is more than just a quirky anecdote, since it reflects the same bold, investigative feeding strategy that lets this adaptable rail thrive on such an unusually varied diet across so many different habitats.
Status
Vulnerable, having declined in parts of New Zealand due to predation by introduced mammals and disease, even as it remains locally common in other areas.
Weka: common questions
Why does the weka steal shiny objects?
This species is notorious for boldly stealing small, shiny, or unattended objects from campsites and picnic areas, a curious and opportunistic habit believed to stem from the same investigative feeding behaviour that lets it exploit an unusually varied diet in the wild.
What does the weka eat?
This species has an extremely varied and opportunistic diet, readily eating insects, small vertebrates, eggs, fruit, and even carrion depending on what is available, a flexibility that has helped it adapt to a wide range of habitats across New Zealand.
Why is the weka considered Vulnerable despite being locally common?
This species has declined in parts of New Zealand due to predation by introduced mammals and disease, even though it remains locally common or abundant in certain other areas, a patchwork population pattern that has left the species classified as Vulnerable overall.
Can the weka fly?
No, this species is flightless, relying entirely on its legs to move through forest, scrub, grassland, and farmland habitat across the various parts of New Zealand where it is found.