Editing Moa

{{Era|HCW}}
{{Species infobox
|name=Moa
|image=[[File:HReach-Moa-FullBody.png|250px]]
|latin=
|classification=
|subspecies=
|diet=
|height=
|weight=
|distinctions=Large, flightless, bird-like creature with feathers and scales
|lifespan=
|homeworld=[[Reach]]<ref name="canonfodder">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/canon-fodder-have-s-moa ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder - Have S'moa]</ref><ref name="moatwitter">[https://twitter.com/Halo/status/1169984800175919104?s=19 ''Twitter'' - Halo: "Indigenous to the planet Reach..."]</ref>
|techlevel=
|notable-person=
|othernames=
|languages=
|hidea=yes
}}

'''Moa''' are large flightless bird-like [[List of animals|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.{{Ref/Reuse|canonfodder}}{{Ref/Reuse|moatwitter}}<ref name="HRCE">''[[Halo: Reach]]'', campaign level, [[Nightfall]]</ref>

==Overview==
===Biology===
Moa are large flightless bird-like creatures that resemble [[extinction|extinct]] [[Earth]]-based [[Wikipedia:Moa|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. The Moa have a yellow colored eye which can be closed with an eyelid. Some Moa feature a purple head crest on their heads,<ref>''Halo: Reach'', Moa model</ref> which may be a case of [[Wikipedia:Sexual dimorphism]]. 

===Habitat===
====Native habitat====
Moa were indigenous to the planet [[Reach]]{{Ref/Reuse|moatwitter}} prior to its fall in the summer of [[2552]]. The species was known to live in the [[Viery Territory]], being present in [[Visegrád]],<ref>''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, [[Winter Contingency]]</ref> and in the [[Eposz]] continent at [[Szurdok Ridge]].{{Ref/Reuse|HRCE}} 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.{{Ref/Reuse|canonfodder}}

====Exportation====
Moa have also been exported to other [[Human colonies]] and locations such as [[Earth]] and [[Casbah]].{{Ref/Reuse|moatwitter}} 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.{{Ref/Reuse|canonfodder}}

==Use by Humans==
===Pets===
Moa are widely exported to human worlds to be kept as pets.{{Ref/Reuse|moatwitter}}

===Food===
Prior to its fall, the moa were consumed by humans on Reach. The [[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]] fast food restaurant chain [[World Cuisine]] had advertisements promoting moa burgers, priced at [[Seven|7.77]][[Credit|cR]].<ref>''Halo: Reach'', campaign level [[Exodus]]</ref> "Moa Wings" were also sold out of vending machines.<ref>''Halo: Reach'', campaign level [[New Alexandria]]</ref>

Moa are frequently exported to other Human worlds as food.{{Ref/Reuse|moatwitter}} The zoo [[Have S'Moa]] sell various Moa consumables such as Moa burgers,<ref>''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', Forge billboards</ref> and [[Moa nugget]]s which are have now become an incredibly expensive delicacy among wealthy [[Unified Earth Government]] dignitaries.{{Ref/Reuse|canonfodder}}

==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 Empire|Covenant]] AI are hostile towards the Moa, although if the player kills one while near friendly AI, such as a member of Noble Team or Army Troopers they will sometimes comment as if an enemy had been killed, and maybe fire on the Moas corpse.This is most likely a small oversight, as Bungie programmed NPCs to fire on dead enemies the player killed.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/Stats/Reach/FileDetails.aspx?fid=11135543 ''Bungie Media - Rendered Films'': Jorge hates Moas?]</ref> 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. Moa are also affected by the Mythic [[Halo: Reach skulls#Mythic|Skull]] doubling their health.

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 [[Seven|7]] of them in the level ''Winter Contingency'' unlocks the achievement [[KEEP IT CLEAN (Achievement)|KEEP IT CLEAN]].<ref name="Update">[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_073010 ''Bungie.net'': Bungie Weekly Update: 07.30.2010]</ref>

==Trivia==
*The original [[Wikipedia:Moa|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<!--Do not change the notation to AD. The wiki uses BCE/CE dating format.--> 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.
*The price of the moa burger in the ''Halo: Reach'' level [[Exodus]] (7.77 [[cR]]) is a reference to [[7|Bungie's favorite number]].
*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 [[Wikipedia:Joust (video game)|Joust]], which featured a knight riding a flying ostrich, by allowing players to ride Moas with [[jetpack]]s while wielding [[energy sword]]s.<ref>[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1092706 ''HBO Forum'': Dan Miller]</ref>
*In [[Halo Mash-Up: Minecraft Evolved]], chicken and horse mobs are retextured to look like Moa.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HR Winter Contingency Crestless Moa.png|Crestless Moa in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
File:Moa Weird.jpg|A close-up of a Moa's head with the Crest in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:Moaburger.png|Moa burger advertisement.
File:OstrichesWEINTERCONTINGENSY.jpg|A flock of Moa on Reach.
File:Reach 5938034 Medium.jpg|A possible male Moa.
File:Smoa logo.png|A stylized moa, used as the logo for Have S'moa.
File:Smoa GP.png|Have S'Moa burger with Moa Angus in it. In ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
[[Category:Animals]]