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Tasmanian Native-hen (Tribonyx mortierii) Alternate name(s): "Native Hen*", "Water Hen*", "Narkie" Size: 42-50 cm Body mass: 1.2-1.3 kg

Australia: Family Group 7 Family Group 7 Table Dusky Moorhen Australasian (Purple) Swamphen Black-tailed Native-hen Tasmanian Native-hen Pale-vented Bush-hen Eurasian Coot White-browed Crake Spotless Crake Baillon's Crake Australian Spotted Crake Lewin's Rail Buff-banded Rail Red-necked Crake Chestnut Rail White-breasted Waterhen Lord Howe Woodhen Australian Bustard Brolga Sarus Crane Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Tasmanian Native-hens are medium-sized waterhens. Their plumage is mostly slate-grey, with the back more brownish and the belly and tail near-black. On their sides they have a near-vertical white flank patch. The bill is yellowish-green, the legs and feet are grey. Tasmanian Native-hens have an upright tail, similar to an Australian Brush-turkey's. Twitcher's tip Compared to Black-tailed Native-hens, Tasmanian Native-hens have less conspicuous grey legs and a shorter tail.

Taxonomy, classification See Tasmanian Native-hen at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Tasmanian Native-hen is available HERE . Tasmanian Native-hens are endemic to Australia. They are found exclusively on Tasmania and a few small islands to the South-East of Tasmania. Their primary range is the north-eastern half of Tasmania, plus the north-western corner. They are not present in the south-western part of the island. Tasmanian Native-hens have a preference for habitats near water, mainly grassland, but also farmland, lawns and pasture.

Sightings Click here for sighting information R. Plumtree reports spotting Tasmanian Native-hens at St. Helens, TAS, in January 2007. B. Hensen spotted Tasmanian Native-hens on Bruny Island, TAS, in March 2016. M. Eaton found Tasmanian Native-hens in Hobart, TAS, in April 2021, and in St. Helens, TAS, in September 2021, where they were found again in September 2024. C. Pears spotted Tasmanian Native-hens at the Hobart Botanical Garden, TAS, in December 2022 and at Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, in January 2023.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an adult Tasmanian Native-hen (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Close-up frontal view of a Tasmanian Native-hen looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2021]

Frontal view of two Tasmanian Native-hens (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Tasmanian Native-hen (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Near-lateral view of a Tasmanian Native-hen (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a Tasmanian Native-hen (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bruny Island, TAS, September 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a Tasmanian Native-hen (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of a Tasmanian Native-hen (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a Tasmanian Native-hen (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Lateral view of a Tasmanian Native-hen; their powerful legs allow them to run at speeds of up to ca. 50 km/h!
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[St. Helens, Tasmania, January 2007]

Near-dorsal view of a Tasmanian Native-hen (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Tasmanian Native-hen (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2021]

Dorsal view of a Tasmanian Native-hen (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2021]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

(Near-)dorsal view of Tasmanian Native-hens with juvenile dependants (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Lateral view of a juvenile Tasmanian Native-hen with ventral decoration [does that hurt...?] (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Frontal view of a Tasmanian Native-hen with chicks behind it (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Lateral view of two Tasmanian Native-hen chicks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-dorsal view of a Tasmanian Native-hen chick (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Near-dorsal view of a Tasmanian Native-hen chick (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2024]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Small mob

Tasmanian Native-hens are flightless; they will dash for cover when feeling threatened. Because of the speeds at which they can run, of up to about 50 kph, Tasmanian Native-hens are commonly known as "Racing chooks" or "Turbo chooks" (For Non-Australians: chook = chicken).

Food, Diet

Frontal view of a Tasmanian Native-hen feeding on grass (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

Frontal view of Tasmanian Native-hens feeding on grass (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hobart, TAS, April 2021]

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