woodhen

noun /ˈwʊd.hɛn/

1. The weka (Gallirallus australis).

2. The species Hypotaenidia sylvestris (syns. Gallirallus sylvestris, Tricholimnas sylvestris, Ocydromus sylvestris), a rail in the family Rallidae endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia.

   The story of the woodhen is one outstanding conservation triumph in a plethora of tragedy.

Where it comes from

From Middle English wodhen, from Old English wuduhenn (“woodhen, quail”), equivalent to wood + hen.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry woodhen (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← woningwoodwose →

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