The Weka (Gallirallus australis)

Weka  (Gallirallus australis)

Weka (Gallirallus australis)
Location: Punakaiki, South Island, New Zealand

This the Weka (Gallirallus australis), a flightless bird native to New Zealand.  We saw it at a picnic area where we stopped to eat our lunch, near Punakaiki, on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island.  We had never seen one before, and at first I thought it might be a kiwi.   Fortunately a nearby visitor center had a chart identifying all the local birds, and we learned this was a Weka, also called a Woodhen.

It appeared that this individual hung out regularly at the picnic area where we saw it, looking for handouts.  It was not very shy.   It would come to within a meter of any humans who looked like they might have some food.     I thought this one was quite a nice looking bird.

4 comments:

Becky said...

Very interesting. With a comb on it's head it would look just like one of my chickens.

BNS said...

Hi Becky - I think you're right. They are about the size of a chicken, too!

Bobbie

Anonymous said...

I can't get over the feet. I've got a shot of some kind of duck or goose I'll post later and it's feet are ... they're just something else. Sorry, got off on a foot tangent. Nice shot. :-D

ANUAR ZAIN said...

I think all the birds in NZ are very friendly. I was at Lake Taipo in North Island recently, and the wild ducks just came over to me asking for handouts. Such lovely creatures! I believe it was the Mallard.

I love to see your entries on birds. It excites me every time I see them. They are real beauties, isnt it?