North Island Brown Kiwi

The kiwi is a small flightless nocturnal bird. It got its name from the male’s shrill call which goes kee-wee-kee-wee. In response, the female produces a guttural call.

These vocalisations help kiwi pairs to mark their territory and keep in touch with each other while they forage in the forest.

Kiwis have a slender bill. Females which are larger also have a longer bill. Kiwis are the only birds in the world that have nostrils located near the tip of their bill.

Using their keen sense of smell, they probe leaf litter to sniff out earthworms, beetles, snails and fruits. They often snuffle when they forage.

The female kiwi produces the largest egg for its body size — the giant egg can weigh up to 25% of her body weight.

The egg creates such a bulge in the kiwi’s body that the bird has to walk with her legs apart! Incubation is done by the male and the period is long, lasting up to 90 days!

Unlike most other birds, kiwis do not have an egg tooth, which chicks use to break the eggshell to hatch. Instead, kiwi hatchlings use their strong legs to kick their way out of the eggshell.