Animal Profiles
Birds

Kiwi

Apteryx

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Kiwis are flightless New Zealand birds with long bills and hair-like feathers. This account describes the southern brown kiwi or tokoeka (Apteryx australis), a ground-dwelling forager.

Apteryx australis (kiwi)

Representative species: Apteryx australis.

Glen Fergus · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Habitat
Temperate forest, Grassland
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Worms and other invertebrates.

Classification

Common name
Kiwi
Browse group
Birds
Scientific name or taxon
Apteryx
Source classification
Aves

Three things to know

  • Its wings are too small for flight.
  • It probes soil for invertebrates.
  • Its loose feathers look hair-like.

Habitat and range

Southern brown kiwi inhabit parts of New Zealand’s South Island and Stewart Island. The older source also discusses North Island brown kiwi, which are a separate species and are not included in this representative range.

Appearance and adaptations

A rounded brown body rests on strong legs. The wings are tiny, and a long bill and sensitive facial bristles help the bird investigate the forest floor.

Diet and behaviour

Kiwis probe soil and leaf litter for worms and other invertebrates, with some fruit also eaten. Sheltered daytime resting places include burrows and dense vegetation. The cited account describes the broader brown-kiwi complex, so behaviour can vary among populations.

Sources

Explore birds

Browse all birds