WEKA

A large flightless rail with red eyes, a strong pointed reddish to greyish bill, red strong legs and variable plumage ranging in colour from greyish and mid-brown to chestnut brown and almost black. Most birds have their dorsal feathers streaked with black, and all have their longest wing and tail feathers boldly barred with black.

Weka strongholds include Russell Peninsula, Kawakawa Bay and Opotiki-Motu in the North Island, and the Marlborough Sounds, North-west Nelson, the West Coast north of Ross, and Fiordland in the South Island.