Kiwi: The Flightless Bird of New Zealand
Kiwis are greyish-brownish small birds with feathers that are like a branch or hair. It is often compared to the size of a domestic chicken. They are covered in fur, are flightless, have long beaks, have firm stout legs with claws to make a toe and tiny-eyes.
Let’s know about this cute, tiny soft bird as we scroll through the page:
- Kiwis in biological terms are named Apertyx. They belong to the family of Apeterygidae.
2. The bird has been classified into 5 distinct groups of species: Great Spotted (Apteryx haastii), Little Spotted (Apteryx owenii), Northern Island Brown (Apteryx mantelli), Southern Brown (Apteryx australis) and Okarito (Apteryx rowi).
3. The current studies around Kiwis have shown that these birds are related to Madagascar’s extinct elephant bird. Among the living, the bird is related to two other ratites, cassowaries and emu.
4. Head of the Kiwi Bird is like a pear. Its size varies amongst its species but is no more than the largest–Northern Brown Kiwi–25 inches and the smallest–Little Spotted Kiwi–18 inches. Similarly, the weight is between 0.8kg to 1.4kg (smallest to largest species).
- Most of its body-weight comes from its muscular legs. Its wings on the claw-tips are non-functional and of no real use. They are around an inch.
6. It is the smallest living ratite in the world. Ratite can be classified as short-legged, smaller in size and is nocturnal. Nocturnal means they prefer roaming out at night rather than daylight, maybe because of predators.
7. Following are just some kiwi-choices:
a) Although Kiwis are constantly being pushed to adapt to new environments, they belong to a beech forest, scrublands and other grasslands. They can be found sleeping inside the logs, dense vegetations and burrows.
b) If not dead as a young chick, Kiwis live up to 20-25 years.
c) These birds are considered unusual as they have long beaks, at the end of which are their nostrils, thus, having a great sense of smell.
d) They prefer eating seeds, worms, grubs and other invertebrates. They also like eating fruits, eels, crayfish and amphibians. They have an excellent auditory and vibrotactile sense.
Kiwis forage their demarcated territories. They leave behind them drops of their odour. Other than the spouse and children of Kiwis, no one else is welcomed. If so happens, Kiwi fights the unwelcomed Kiwi.
8. Some studies have shown that many species of Kiwi are either on the verge of extinction or already extinct (mostly due to deforestation). But, as each living species of Kiwi is being taken care of inside the habitats, parks and reserves, today, they are more threatened by mammalian predation rather than deforestation.
9. Kiwis are found in New Zealand. Kiwi birds are colloquial to the New Zealanders. They are also national icons, expressing the peculiarity of the nation’s wildlife.
Do you know that where predators are removed or managed, around 55% of Kiwi Chicks survive!
Blog Edited By Ritika Gupta
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