Gallirallus australis
System : Terrestrial
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Aves
Gruiformes
Rallidae
  • Not Evaluated
    NE
  • No Alien Population
    NA
  • Data Deficient
    DD
  • Minimal Concern
    MC
  • Minor
    MN
  • Moderate
    MO
  • Major
    MR
  • Massive
    MV
  • General
  • Distribution
  • Impact
  • Management
  • Bibliography
  • Contact
Common name
 
Synonym
Similar species
Summary

Principal source:

Compiler:

Review:

Publication date:

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2025) Species profile: Gallirallus australis. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Gallirallus+australis on 05-02-2025.

Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Gallirallus australis
ALIEN RANGE
NATIVE RANGE
Informations on Gallirallus australis has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.
Lorem Ipsum
Location Status Invasiveness Occurrence Source
Details of Gallirallus australis in information
Status
Invasiveness
Arrival date
Occurrence
Source
Introduction
Species notes for this location
Location note
Management notes for this location
Impact
Mechanism:
Outcome:
Ecosystem services:
Impact information
Locations
AUSTRALIA
NEW ZEALAND
Mechanism
[2] Predation
[1] Flammability
Management information
Bibliography
0 references found for Gallirallus australis

Management information
Contact
The following 0 contacts offer information an advice on Gallirallus australis
MV
Gallirallus australis
Date assessed
2021-09-08
Year published
2023
Eicat category
MV (Massive)
Justification for EICAT assessment


On Macquarie Island predation by the Weka may have been sufficient to reduce the endemic Macquarie Island Parakeets (Cyanoramphus erythrotis) from abundance to global extinction and may also have destroyed the endemic Macquarie Rail (Gallirallus philippensis macquariensis) which was globaly extinct by 1984. The crucial factor in the bird's extinction appears to have been the successful liberation of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in 1879. This led to great increases of feral cats and introduced wekas (Gallirallus australis) and presumably to greatly intensified predation on parakeets. (Taylor 1979).
Confidence rating
Low
Mechanism(s) of maximum impact
Predation
Countries of most severe impact
New Zealand
Description of impacts
The Weka is responsible for the global extinction of the Macquarie Island Parakeet and Macquarie Rail, the local extinction of the Blue Petrel on Macquarie Island and for the decline of several bird species in New Zealand. It preys on bird eggs, chicks and invertebrates and can alter the characteristics of vegetated areas.
Assessor
Tom Allmert; Thomas Evans
Contributors
Reviewers
EICAT authority
Recommended citation
Tom Allmert, Thomas Evans (2025). Gallirallus australis. IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT).