---
title: "Weka"
description: "Gallirallus australis — Aves. The weka, also known as the Māori hen or woodhen (Gallirallus australis) is a flightless bird species of the rail family."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/pt/animal/weka
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Weka

> Gallirallus australis — Aves. The weka, also known as the Māori hen or woodhen (Gallirallus australis) is a flightless bird species of the rail family.

- Scientific name: *Gallirallus australis*
- Category: `birds` (Aves)
- Habitats: `forest` (Floresta)
- iNaturalist observations: 8525
- Wikidata: [Q756714](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q756714)
- iNaturalist taxon: [436](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/436)

## Names

- en: Weka
- de: Wekaralle
- es: Rascón weka
- fr: Râle wéka
- nl: Weka
- pl: Weka

## Countries with the most observations

NZ (5345)

## Summary

The weka, also known as the Māori hen or woodhen (Gallirallus australis) is a flightless bird species of the rail family. It is endemic to New Zealand. Some authorities consider it as the only extant member of the genus Gallirallus. Four subspecies are recognized but only two (northern/southern) are supported by genetic evidence.
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.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weka

## Photo

![Weka](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/weka/medium.jpg)

Photo: Max G.W. Verheij · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100490238

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/weka?lang=pt` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).