Weird weka

Posted by jamesy (christchurch, New Zealand) on 25 August 2008 in Animal & Insect.

This is one of NZ many flightless birds. They are very curious and much rarer than they used to be. This photo was taken in the Malborough Sounds. This bird is often mistaken for a kiwi

I really enjoy taking photos and would appreciate your feedback so that I can learn as I go. I particularly enjoy photographing birds animals and landscapes

Comments (22)

Zygene from morlaix, France

Un joli petit piaf !

25 Aug 2008 5:06am

@Zygene: Merci

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States

wow! have never seen this bird before! is it prehistoric? why is it flightless? and why does NZ have so many flightless birds? very intriguing! beautiful shot here -- wonderful feather detail!

25 Aug 2008 5:38am

@dj.tigersprout: So many questions DJ it is not prehistoric. NZ has so many flightless birds because before it was settled by man it only had 1 native mammal a bat so there were no predators for flightless birds i.e. cats rats stoats weasels etc. This is why now these birds are increasingly endangered and some only survive on offshore islands. Hope you don't mind the nature lesson

Catalin from Bucharest, Romania

Nice shot, very interesting bird, good work

25 Aug 2008 6:44am

@Catalin: Thanks very much

Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand

Ahh the wonderful Weka! I was amazed by these birds when I first caught sight of them on the West Coast. They are pretty cheeky too! Lovely shot J

25 Aug 2008 8:11am

@Linerberry: Thanks C

Eric Fry from Houston, TX, United States

What an interesting fellow, and a great photo of him!

25 Aug 2008 8:51am

@Eric Fry: Thanks Eric

Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia

Wow, I have never seen anything like them Deb, thanks for showing some of the local wildlife!

25 Aug 2008 9:39am

@Kylie Greenan: Thanks Kylie a bit like a really short legged emu

Margie from Auckland, New Zealand

How cool! I've never seen one in the wild. Lucky!

25 Aug 2008 10:21am

@Margie: You need to get down to the South Island Margie

Lorraine from Canada

He's beautiful,never seen a bird like this, bravo on the catch :)

25 Aug 2008 11:29am

@Lorraine: thanks Lorraine

l.a. from Cape Canaveral, United States

Nice shot! Good thing they flightless so they don't fly off on you.

25 Aug 2008 12:49pm

@l.a.: Makes them much easier to photograph

Maxine from Rangiora, New Zealand

Well done D, they are so naughty the Wekas, this is a neat shot.

25 Aug 2008 12:49pm

Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom

lovely shot

25 Aug 2008 1:12pm

willow from Chelsea, United States

Definitely weird, but wonderful!

25 Aug 2008 1:18pm

Anthony from Germany

Great shot,what a great little guy.

25 Aug 2008 1:57pm

Jen from Alpharetta, United States

Great capture!

25 Aug 2008 3:08pm

Mary from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom

Weird is the name but a wonderfull shot

25 Aug 2008 3:29pm

Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa

Great shot of a weird and interesting bird, love the detail in the feathers. Nice one.

25 Aug 2008 3:38pm

@Graham Russon: Thanks Graham

One from Açores, Portugal

Beautiful! Good composition, I have never seen a bird like this.

25 Aug 2008 3:57pm

Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France

Never seen a bird like this one…

25 Aug 2008 4:13pm

Garfinator from Huddersfield, United Kingdom

What an interesting looking bird and great that you took it in the wild.

25 Aug 2008 7:28pm

Cia from Kvänum, Sweden

Great shot! Interesting bird

25 Aug 2008 8:29pm

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

What an amazing bird..... it really does have a prehistoric look. Are these birds protected....?

25 Aug 2008 8:34pm

@Observing: Yes they are protected

Francesc B. from région parisienne, France

A little similarity with a kiwi... a strange bird.

26 Aug 2008 4:04pm

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Nikon E4300
1/180 second
F/4.9
ISO 100
114 mm (35mm equiv.)