The kiwi bird is a flightless one like the dodo and emu, but unlike them, it has its unique approach to life. It is an animal that lives at night and sleeps by day, so it never comes out of the thick bush along rivers where it loves to feed on earthworms.

Kiwi birds have a great sense of smell that has earned them the title of being “the sniffer-dog of birds.” They use their sharp beak to probe worms under leaf litter and rotten logs. However, because they spend almost all of their time underground, kiwi birds are vulnerable to predators such as domestic cats, dogs, ferrets, stoats, and rats.

Kiwi bird size

The kiwi bird is about 14 – 18 inches (the size of a chicken) and usually weighs between 3-5 pounds. It has no wings because it has evolved over millions of years without flying capability. Its body is often referred to as egg-shaped, with its long tail making up almost half of the total length when measured from head to “stump.” The kiwi bird’s neck is very short, but there is an elongated bill that extends beyond their tiny legs, which look like flippers or paddles, giving them an awkward gait; this may have been caused by the absence of need for flight coupled with strong.

What do they eat?

Kiwi birds eat mainly earthworms, beetles, grubs, freshwater shrimp, snails, slugs, and soft fruits like berries and figs. They have no tongue; instead, the tip of their bill is modified as an organ of gestation (taste). Although they do not fly like other birds when moving from one place to another, the kiwi bird has small wings which help keep body temperature at normal levels during cold nights. In addition, their plumage is so dense that even when a kiwi bird steps into the water or when it rains, they are not affected very much by wetting.

Since kiwis have no teeth, they use their tough beak to crush earthworms, grubs, and other food items.
Although they have long legs and short wings, these birds can run up to speeds of about 25 mph over short distances. Their powerful hind legs allow them to kick predators or people who might come close to them while feeding on worms underground. In addition, the bird’s legs and long beak evolved to dig into the ground with ease and crush any hard objects found there.

Does a kiwi bird fly?

Kiwi birds cannot fly. They have tiny wings and evolved without needing to fly because they feed on worms under logs. In ancient times, when there were no predatory animals around like dogs, cats, etc., the kiwi bird did not have a strong need to run away from them since it could simply move deeper into the bush.

Can you keep a Kiwi bird as a pet?

No. Keeping a kiwi bird as a pet is already prohibited in most countries. Only very few zoos can keep kiwis because the animal requires special care and protection from predators found in its natural habitat. In addition, it cannot fly, so it has to be kept indoors for the rest of its life, depriving it of natural food and fresh air.

Because of these reasons, keeping a Kiwi bird is not allowed except by authorized zoos that specialize in this kind of animal; besides, they are endangered species and should not be taken away from their natural habitat unless there is no other choice left but to do so.

Guess what’s much better than getting a kiwi as a pet? Get one of our Kiwi Art Prints to decorate your home with! Much less work than a real pet, and also cheaper.

There are five recognized species:

1) North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli), which lives on North Island;
2) Okarito brown kiwi (A. rowi), which lives in South Westland, at the northwestern part of South Island;
3) Little spotted kiwi (A. oweni), which lives on both North and South Islands;
4) Great spotted kiwi (A. crassirostris); the largest of all species, which is found in both islands;
5) Rowi – a newly discovered species, long thought to be a race of the Okarito brown kiwi, but has recently been given full species status. It was discovered in 2001. 

Summary:

A kiwi bird is a unique native New Zealand bird species belonging to the family Apterygidae in the order of Struthioniformes. 

The word kiwi comes from the Maori language, which means “God of Life.” 

Kiwis are nocturnal birds that feed on worms found under logs and stones; they have very few wings that do not allow them to fly like other birds but help keep their body temperature normal when weather conditions are cold. 

There are five recognized species: 

North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli), which lives on North Island; 

Okarito brown kiwi (A. rowi), which lives in South Westland, at the northwestern part of South Island; 

Little spotted kiwi (A. oweni), which lives on both North and South Islands; 

Great spotted kiwi (A. crassirostris); the largest of all species, which is found in both islands; 

Rowi – a newly discovered species, long thought to be a race of the Okarito brown kiwi, but has recently been given full species status. It was discovered in 2001.