Haastaviakin

Haastaviakin is a genus of extinct birds belonging to the family Haastornithidae. These birds are known from fossils discovered in the North Island of New Zealand. The most notable species within this genus is Haastavius rarus. Haastaviakin were large, flightless birds, with some species estimated to have stood over a meter tall. Their skeletal structure suggests a robust build, adapted for terrestrial life.

The diet of Haastaviakin is believed to have consisted primarily of plants, based on analyses of their beak shape and inferred digestive systems. Evidence suggests they inhabited forests and scrublands. Like many extinct flightless birds of New Zealand, such as the moa, Haastaviakin likely played a significant role in their ecosystem through herbivory.

The extinction of Haastaviakin is attributed to the arrival of humans in New Zealand. Overhunting and habitat destruction by early Māori settlers are considered the primary causes of their demise. The exact timing of their extinction is not precisely known but is thought to have occurred sometime after human colonization. The discovery and study of Haastaviakin fossils have provided valuable insights into the prehistoric avifauna of New Zealand and the ecological impacts of human arrival.