Kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand — a flightless nocturnal bird with strong legs and loose hair-like feathers. The local inhabitants of New Zealand are also known as Kiwis. The most common Kiwi is the North Island Brown Kiwi, typically found in the northern two-thirds of New Zealand.
Kiwi birds have a lifespan between 25–50 years. Once the eggs hatch, the chicks take 3–5 years to become a full grown adult. Kiwi chicks are fully feathered and independent from their mothers since day one.
5 TYPES OF KIWI
- Brown Kiwi
- Grey spotted kiwi
- Little spotted kiwi
- Rowi
- Tokoeka
KIWI HISTORY AND LEGEND
According to Maori legend, the Kiwi bird is blessed by Tane Mahuta — God of the Forest. Kiwi once had beautiful coloured wings like Tui, Pukeko and Pipiwharauroa. The forest was becoming endangered and needed to be protected from the ground. Tane Mahoka asked all the birds to volunteer to come down to earth to guard and protect the trees of the forest, but none accepted the challenge except the Kiwi. For it to fulfil this duty, the Kiwi lost its wings and grew short strong legs. Tane Mahoka was so impressed by the courage and sacrifice shown by Kiwi and promised it would become the most well known and most loved bird of them all.
WHERE DO THEY USUALLY LIVE?
Kiwis are very territorial land-based birds. They inhabit damp gullies, dense shrubland and other wetlands. At night you can hear them doing their Kiwi calls for their mate or to mark their territory. If you listen carefully when out cruising on The Rock, you may hear Kiwi calls at night when they emerge from their burrows. The best time to hear Kiwi calls is during a moonless night and in the crack of dawn.
FUN FACTS ABOUT KIWI
- It has really tiny wings covered in its feathers
- Kiwi got its name from the sound they produce: "kee-wee, kee-wee"
- Kiwis are monogamous — like penguins, they stick with one partner for life
- Kiwi lays large eggs disproportionate to its size