Moa

Moa
Physical information
Avg. height:	267.9 centimetres (8.79 ft)
Distinctions:	Large, flightless, bird-like creature with feathers and scales
Sociocultural information
Homeworld:	Reach<

Moa are large flightless bird-like creatures that were native to Reach. They are found on several Human colonies due to exportation, however are close to extinction on their native homeworld.

Overview

Biology

Moa are large flightless bird-like creatures that resemble extinct Earth-based Moa. The average Moa has two legs and two wings, with their body being covered with features, with scales from the neck up leading up to a very lizard-like head. Some Moa feature a purple head crest on their heads.

Habitat

Native habitat

Moa were indigenous to the planet Reach prior to its fall in the summer of 2552. The species was known to live in the Viery Territory, being present in Visegrád, and in the Eposz continent at Szurdok Ridge. Following the Fall of Reach in the summer of 2552, the Covenant's attack on the planet brought the Moa's numbers to near-extinction levels. However, Moa still survive on Reach in remote sectors of the planet that were not glassed by the Covenant.

Exportation

Moa have also been exported to other Human colonies and locations such as Earth and Casbah. The largest single population of moa is located on the Inner Colony of Gannick 22. Wiljax Brantley, entrepreneur and owner of the restaurant and petting zoo Have S'Moa, had a population of moa shipped to the planet from Reach just before the attack.

Use by Humans

Pets

Moa are widely exported to human worlds to be kept as pets.

Food

Prior to its fall, the moa were consumed by humans on Reach. The New Alexandria fast food restaurant chain World Cuisine had advertisements promoting moa burgers, priced at 7.77cR. "Moa Wings" were also sold out of vending machines.

Moa are frequently exported to other Human worlds as food. The zoo Have S'Moa sell various Moa consumables such as Moa burgers, and Moa nuggets which are have now become an incredibly expensive delicacy among wealthy Unified Earth Government dignitaries.

Gameplay

Halo: Reach

The Moa appear as ambient life in Halo: Reach. The Moa are harmless and will not attack the player. They will take shelter under bridges and other formations when there is a battle nearby. Neither human nor Covenant AI are hostile towards the Moa, although if the player kills one while near a member of Noble Team, they will sometimes comment as if an enemy had been killed. The first time that Moa are encountered in Halo: Reach is when several bolt around a corner in an early part of the campaign level Winter Contingency before contact with the Covenant, causing many players to shoot and kill the birds by accident. They are once again and lastly seen in Nightfall, shortly after fighting the two Gúta.

Killing 7 of them in the level Winter Contingency unlocks the achievement KEEP IT CLEAN.

Trivia

• The original Moa were a group of flightless bird species native to the north and south islands that make up New Zealand, hunted to extinction between 1300 and 1400 CE by the original native Maori tribes. It is unlikely that Reach's "Moa" is related to the New Zealand Moa, and were most likely nicknamed by settlers for their superficial similarity.
• Moa appear as white dots on the player's motion tracker, and the player's reticle does not change color when it is pointed at a Moa. However, if the player melees a Moa at close range, it is possible to lunge towards it, as if they were an enemy.
• The price of the moa burger in the Halo: Reach level Exodus (7.77 cR) is a reference to Bungie's favorite number.
• It is possible that Moa with the red plumes on their heads are males while the ones without them are females, since the red plumes could serve a purpose similar to Earth's birds, for mating and for courtship, similar to the feathers of a peacock.
• Curiously, Moa are affected by the Mythic skull.
• If the player kills a Moa, NPCs, such as Jorge-052, might fire at or talk to the corpse as if they were an enemy. Similarly, Army troopers will still comment as if the Moa were a hostile target. This is most likely a small oversight, as Bungie programmed NPCs to fire on dead enemies the player killed.
• According to the Halo: Reach Legendary Edition developer commentary, Kat-B320 would laugh when the player killed Moa just as she would when killing Covenant. It was cut because it seemingly encouraged animal cruelty.
• A cut easter egg in the level New Alexandria would have parodied the 1982 game Joust, which featured a knight riding a flying ostrich, by allowing players to ride Moas with jetpacks while wielding energy swords.
• One of the options on the vending machines in Reflection is "Moa Wings".
• In Halo Mash-Up: Minecraft Evolved, chicken and horse mobs are retextured to look like Moa.

Gallery

• 

  Crestless Moa in Halo: Reach.

• 

  A close-up of a Moa's head with the Crest in Halo: Reach.

• 

  Moa burger advertisement.

• 

  A flock of Moa on Reach.

• 

  A possible male Moa.

• 

  A stylized moa, used as the logo for Have S'moa.

• 

  Have S'Moa burger with Moa Angus in it. In Halo 5: Guardians.

List of appearances

• Halo: Reach (First appearance)
• Halo 5: Guardians (Mentioned only)