About the Hodgen's Waterhen
The New Zealand giant crake or Hodgens’ Waterhen is an extinct rail species from New Zealand. Its name commemorates J. and R. Hodgen who were owners of the Pyramid Valley swamp where the holotype was discovered. It reached a weight of 280 g and its wings were so reduced that it was unable to fly. It occupied a wide range of habitats, including open forest and grassland along riverbanks.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) |
| Species | Tribonyx hodgenorum |
| Species Codes | hodwat1, HOWA |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Hodgen's Waterhen belong to?
The Hodgen's Waterhen (Tribonyx hodgenorum) belongs to the Rails, Gallinules, and Coots family (Rallidae), in the order Gruiformes.
How can I identify the Hodgen's Waterhen?
The New Zealand giant crake or Hodgens’ Waterhen is an extinct rail species from New Zealand. Its name commemorates J. and R. Hodgen who were owners of the Pyramid Valley swamp where the holotype was discovered. It reached a weight of 280 g and its wings were so reduced that it was unable to fly. It...
Where can I report a Hodgen's Waterhen sighting?
You can log sightings of Hodgen's Waterhen on eBird (ebird.org) using species code hodwat1, or on iNaturalist.