Great Spotted Kiwi Bird Details
Apteryx haastii
Great Spotted Kiwi
NA
Thomas Henry Potts, 1872
Apterygiformes (KIWIS)
Apterygidae
Apteryx
Endemic to New Zealand, specifically the South Island.
Appearance :
The Great Spotted Kiwi is a small, flightless bird with a long slender bill, short legs, and dense, shaggy brown feathers streaked with white.
Behaviour :
Nocturnal and shy, Great Spotted Kiwis are known for their strong sense of smell and probing bills which they use to find insects and grubs.
Habitat :
They inhabit forests, scrublands, and native grasslands of New Zealand, particularly the South Island.
Diet :
Their diet mainly consists of insects, worms, and other invertebrates, which they find by probing the forest floor.
Conservation Status :
Vulnerable
Distribution :
They are found in certain regions of the South Island of New Zealand, primarily in the northwest.
Population Size :
Around 15,000 individuals.
Life Span :
Live up to 40-50 years.
Body And Tarsus:
The Great Spotted Kiwi has a stocky, round body covered in dense, coarse brown feathers with lighter mottling.
Head And Bill :
The head is small with a long, slender, slightly down-curved bill, which is used for probing the forest floor for invertebrates.
Length :
Approximately 45-50 cm (18-20 inches).
Neck :
Short and not visibly distinct due to its compact body shape.
Size :
Medium-sized among kiwi species.
Tail Details :
Almost absent, as with all kiwi species
Weight :
Around 1.6-3.3 kg (3.5-7.3 lbs).
Wing :
Wings are vestigial and hidden within the plumage.
Wing Span :
Typically, not measured due to vestigial wings.
Facial Feature :
The face is characterized by small, beady eyes and nostrils near the tip of the long bill.
Nest Details :
- Nest: The nest is usually a burrow dug by both male and female kiwis, often in dense forest undergrowth or in banks.
- Nest Composition: The nest is lined with leaves, grass, and other vegetation for insulation.
Breeding Season :
Usually from June to March.
Nesting Season :
Occur any time during the breeding period.
Egg Color :
Creamy white with a slightly glossy surface.
Egg Length :
Around 10 cm (4 inches) in length.
Egg Width and Weight :
7 cm (2.8 inches) in width.
Clutch Size :
Normally 1-2 eggs per clutch.
No. of Broods :
A single brood per breeding season.
Incubation Period :
Approximately 75-85 days
Nestling Period :
Leaving the nest after about 2-3 weeks
Vocalization :
Kiwis are known for their haunting, eerie calls that echo through the forests at night, serving as territorial and contact calls.
Sex Demorphism :
Females typically being slightly larger than males
Migration Details :
Non-migratory birds.
