Moa

Moa were an extra-terrestrial species native to Reach. They are large flightless birds that resemble extinct Earth-based Moa. They seem to have feathered bodies and scales from the neck up, leading up to a very lizard-like head.

The Moa are presumed to be edible and consumed by Humans on Reach. The New Alexandria fast food restaurant World Cuisine had an advertisement promoting Moa burgers, priced at 7.77cR. These Moas were most likely domesticated and farmed for food. The fate of the Moa is unknown after the Covenant glassed Reach.

Gameplay
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 A.I 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 run around a corner in an early part of the mission 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 of them in the mission 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 C.E. by newly arrived Māori 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.
 * According to the Halo: Reach Legendary Edition developer commentary, Kat-B320 was originally supposed to laugh when you kill any Moa due to her reactions towards alien species. It was cut due to the current situation of real-life animal cruelty.
 * Halo Reach daily challenges sometimes include killing Moa for credit reward
 * Every time a player kills a Moa, they will be given the Bungie.net Exclusive medal H. Ryan Memorial
 * The Moa only appear in 2 campaign missions, Winter Contingency and Nightfall. The only missions where wildlife is encountered.
 * MOAS is a common anagram for SOMA, a word which describes the neck region of an animal.
 * Vending machines selling Moa wings can be seen on some multiplayer maps like Reflection.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Reach