Tasmanian Nativehen (Tribonyx mortierii)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Tasmanian Nativehen

Tribonyx mortierii Du Bus de Gisignies, 1840

51 cmLength1.3 kgWeight

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: Australia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: Australia

Tasmanian Nativehen has been recorded at 3 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Goulds Lagoon Wildlife SanctuaryAustralia1,425 records
  2. InalaAustralia896 records
  3. Tamar Island WetlandsAustralia698 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Australia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The Tasmanian nativehen (Tribonyx mortierii) (alternative spellings: Tasmanian native-hen or Tasmanian native hen), also known by its palawa kani name piyura, is a flightless rail and one of twelve species of birds endemic to Australia's island state of Tasmania. Although many flightless birds have a history of extinction at the hands of humans, the species has actually benefited from the introduction of European-style agricultural practices in Tasmania. Its success may also be attributed to the recent extinction of its main predator, the thylacine.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Tasmanian Nativehen?

The Tasmanian Nativehen is about 51 cm long and weighs around 1.3 kg.

Where does the Tasmanian Nativehen live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: Tasmania (southeastern Australia). It is most often recorded in Australia.

When is the best time to see the Tasmanian Nativehen?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Tasmanian Nativehen endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Tasmanian Nativehen as Least Concern.

What does the Tasmanian Nativehen eat?

Main food: Omnivore.

What family is the Tasmanian Nativehen in?

It belongs to the family Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae), order Gruiformes.

At a glance

Length
51 cm
Weight
1.3 kg
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Omnivore
Lifestyle
Active on the ground
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
186 mm
Tail
88 mm
Bill
38 mm
Tarsus
75 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: Tasmania (southeastern Australia)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Rails, Crakes & Coots Rallidae
Genus
Tribonyx

Other birds in the genus Tribonyx

Black-tailed NativehenBlack-tailed NativehenTribonyx ventralisGrey-throated RailGrey-throated RailCanirallus oculeusChestnut-headed CrakeChestnut-headed CrakeAnurolimnas castaneicepsSpotted RailSpotted RailPardirallus maculatusBlackish RailBlackish RailPardirallus nigricansPlumbeous RailPlumbeous RailPardirallus sanguinolentusAsh-throated CrakeAsh-throated CrakeMustelirallus albicollisZapata RailZapata RailMustelirallus cerveraiColombian CrakeColombian CrakeMustelirallus colombianusPaint-billed CrakePaint-billed CrakeMustelirallus erythrops
Tasmanian Nativehen

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from reference photos. ↗

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