Brown Kiwi

Kiwis mostly eat small invertebrates, such as earthworms, insect larvae, centipedes, spiders, crickets, and some small fallen fruit and leaves.

At the Zoo, the kiwi diet consists of earthworms, mealworms, and other insects.

Kiwi find food by slowly walking along and tapping the ground with their long beaks. When prey is detected, they probe their beak into the ground to grab it. Baby kiwis will also eat small pebbles and twigs stored in the gizzard to help digest food as it ages. 

Brown kiwis are found only on the North Island and some nearby islands of New Zealand.

Kiwis live in subtropical and temperate forests and grasslands. They like to stay in large, dark areas of the forest where they can hide and feel safe while they sleep during the day.

Most of the kiwi's predators were introduced to the island by humans and have caused numbers to decline. This includes domestic dogs and cats, pigs, brush-tailed possums, and stoats.

Habitat loss and fragmentation happen when land is changed for farming or urban development, which can be very harmful to certain populations. Additionally, new bird diseases can be a risk, especially when non-native species are introduced into the environment.

Kiwis have a spiky brown feathers streaked with reddish brown, which help them blend into their natural habitat. Their long, soft feathers look and feel like fur. Kiwis have whiskers at the base of their beaks that they use for feeling their way around, which is especially important because they have poor vision.

While kiwi have an excellent sense of smell and have nostrils at the ends of their beak to search for prey in the leaf litter and ground. They are also able to feel the vibrations of insects moving underneath the soil using sensory pits at the tips of their beaks.

They have powerful legs and can run quickly. As flightless birds, kiwis lack visible wings and have no tail. They also have heavier bones than flighted birds. They are about the size of a chicken, which helps them move easily through the underbrush on the forest floor.

Kiwis are usually monogamous, meaning they mate for life. During the breeding season, which lasts from June to March, male kiwis become very protective of their territory. They defend their area by calling out and sometimes fighting other kiwis that come too close.

Kiwis can lay eggs at any time, but they mostly do so between June and November. They like to build nests in short burrows, rock crevices, or inside hollow trees and logs. The female brown kiwi digs the nest and lays smooth, ivory or light green eggs. After she lays the eggs, the male takes over the job incubating and looking after the nest until the eggs hatch. During this time, the male can lose a lot of weight and develops a special patch of skin on his belly called a "brood patch" to help keep the eggs warm. Usually, two eggs are laid, but they are spaced about three to four weeks apart. Kiwis have the second largest eggs compared to their body size of any bird. The eggs can weigh as much as one-third of the female's body weight! A female kiwi can lay up to three clutches of eggs in a year.

When kiwi chicks hatch, they are fully feathered and do not rely on their parents for food. They rely on the yolk left in their bellies. About a week after they hatch, chicks start to explore outside the nest but still return daily until they leave their home area at about four to six weeks old. Kiwi chicks are small (only around 275 grams and about five inches long) and slow, which makes them an easy target for predators, and many do not survive to one year old. Once they grow bigger, they can escape most dangers. Males become ready to breed at 18 months, while females are ready between three to five years.

Kiwis are nocturnal, so you are more likely to hear them than see them. They call out at night to mark their territory and keep contact with their partners. Often, a pair will sing together, with one bird responding a few seconds after the other finishes its call. The male kiwi makes a high-pitched whistle (“kee-wee, kee-wee") that is repeated 15 to 25 times, while the female produces a slower, lower cry that is repeated 10 to 20 times.

Brown kiwis are mainly solitary, except during breeding season. Being nocturnal is beneficial because it reduces the competition for food, allows them to find food that is not available during the day, and keeps them safe from predators. During the day, brown kiwis stay hidden in their burrows.