Vertebrate Zoology: A Textbook - T. A. Dauda 2014

Metazoa
Class Aves
Superorder Ratitae, or Ostriches - Order Apterygiformes, or Kiwis

Kiwis inhabit the forests and shrublands of New Zealand. They are the smallest representatives of ratites. They are about the size of a large chicken, weighing up to 3 kg. Their bodies are stout, with short necks and four-toed legs. The bill is long and slightly curved downwards, with nostrils opening at the tip. Kiwis are tailless, and their wings are barely noticeable. They are nocturnal. Their diet consists mainly of insects, earthworms, and occasionally plant matter. They forage primarily by scent, which is far better developed in them than in other birds. They reproduce slowly. The clutch usually contains one, rarely two eggs, up to 14 cm long and weighing up to 450 g. Both parents participate in incubation.

Currently, kiwis have been heavily depleted by hunters and predatory mammals introduced to New Zealand. They are under protection.



Last update: 13/08/2026

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