Gallirallus australis
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey (vectorization) and HuttyMcphoo (photography) · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
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. 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).
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 rail family. Weka have sturdy legs and reduced wings... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton Zoo | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Willowbank Wildlife Reserve | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Kiwi Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Ōtorohanga Kiwi House | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
No species of the same family or order lives in Arthur's Pass National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other birds.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Weka sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park on a given day, based on 96 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 42nd most-seen of the 48 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May–June, August and December–March
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Weka in Arthur's Pass National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April, July and September–November, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Weka sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
4th of 4
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Weka sightings, Arthur's Pass National Park ranks 4th at about 10%. The best odds are in Abel Tasman National Park (New Zealand, about 80%), Rakiura National Park (New Zealand, about 30%) and Fiordland National Park (New Zealand, about 30%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Weka is recorded against all the birds logged in Arthur's Pass National Park (96 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
