Photo: Edoddridge / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tasmanian Nativehen
Tribonyx mortierii
Tasmanian Nativehen (Tribonyx mortierii) — Cranes & Rails of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tasmanian Nativehen (Tribonyx mortierii) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 1.3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Tribonyx
- Species mortierii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.3 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tasmanian Nativehen is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Tasmanian Nativehen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tasmanian Nativehen (Tribonyx mortierii) is a member of the Rallidae family, within the order Gruiformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Tasmania (se Australia).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.3 kg, with a wing length of about 18.6 cm and a tail of around 8.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 36,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tasmanian Nativehen?
The Tasmanian Nativehen is a very large bird that weighs around 1.3 kg.
Where does the Tasmanian Nativehen live?
The Tasmanian Nativehen is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Tasmania (se Australia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Tasmanian Nativehen belong to?
The Tasmanian Nativehen (Tribonyx mortierii) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Tasmanian Nativehen eat?
The Tasmanian Nativehen is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Tasmanian Nativehen migrate?
The Tasmanian Nativehen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Tasmanian Nativehen endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Tasmanian Nativehen make?
1 real field recording of the Tasmanian Nativehen — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tasmanian Nativehen's range?
The Tasmanian Nativehen has a mapped global range of about 36,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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