Kiwi fruit and kiwi birds may share the same name, but they are very different! The kiwi fruit is a sweet, green fruit with brown fuzzy skin and green flesh. The kiwi bird is a flightless bird native to New Zealand. While they may seem unrelated, the kiwi fruit was actually named after the kiwi bird due to their similar brown fuzzy appearance.
Kiwi Fruit
The kiwi fruit, also known as the Chinese gooseberry, is an oval shaped fruit about the size of a chicken egg. The skin is thin, fuzzy, and brown on the outside with bright green flesh on the inside containing many edible tiny black seeds.
Kiwi fruits originate from China and were brought to New Zealand in the early 20th century. They were renamed “kiwi fruit” in 1959 by New Zealand exporters due to the fruit’s resemblance to the brown fuzzy kiwi bird.
Some key facts about kiwi fruit:
- Kiwi plants are vines that produce fruit after 3-5 years. The vines can grow very large, sometimes over 30 feet long.
- Kiwi fruit season is typically from October to May in New Zealand.
- The main producers of kiwi fruit are New Zealand, Italy, Chile, France, and the United States.
- Kiwi fruit contains high amounts of vitamin C and vitamin K.
- The most common cultivars are the fuzzy kiwi and the golden kiwi.
- Kiwi fruit are commonly sliced and added to fruit salads, made into juices, or eaten raw as a snack.
Some potential health benefits of eating kiwi fruit:
- May help boost immunity due to high vitamin C content
- May support heart health due to antioxidants and potassium
- May aid digestion due to actinidin enzyme
- May help reduce blood pressure
Kiwi Bird
The kiwi bird is a flightless bird native to New Zealand. About the size of a chicken, it has brown fuzzy feathers, a long beak, strong legs, and no tail. Due to its inability to fly and vulnerability on the ground, the kiwi largely lives in forests and feeds on insects, grubs, fruits and seeds.
Some key facts about the kiwi bird:
- Kiwi are nocturnal birds, sleeping during the day and active at night.
- They mate for life and the female kiwi is larger than the male.
- Kiwi lay the largest egg in proportion to their body size of any bird.
- The kiwi has excellent sense of smell but poor eyesight.
- Five species of kiwi exist, with some being endangered or critically endangered.
- The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand, even featured on their $1 coin.
Some unique features of the kiwi bird:
- Lay eggs that are about 20% of their body weight – one of the largest egg to body weight ratios of any bird
- Have strong, muscular legs but reduced, vestigial wings
- Nostrils located at the end of their long beak to help sniff out food
- Unique feathers more like hair or fur, allowing them to blend into the forest floor
- Special respiratory system to help withstand the compression of their chest during underground burrowing
Differences between kiwi fruit and kiwi bird
While the kiwi fruit and kiwi bird share a common name due to their similar fuzzy brown appearance, they are very different organisms. Here is a table summarizing some of the key differences:
| Characteristic | Kiwi Fruit | Kiwi Bird |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | Animalia |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (dicots) | Aves |
| Origins | Native to China | Endemic to New Zealand |
| Physical features | Oval shaped fruit with fuzzy brown skin and bright green flesh | Round, flightless bird with brown feathers and long beak. No tail. |
| Size | 3-4 inches long | 15-20 inches tall |
| Habitat | Cultivated on agricultural vines | Forest floors of New Zealand |
| Diet | N/A (fruit) | Insects, grubs, fruits, seeds |
| Major producers | New Zealand, Italy, Chile, France, United States | Native to New Zealand |
As you can see, while the kiwi fruit and bird share a name and fuzzy appearance, they differ significantly in terms of taxonomy, physical features, habitat, and more. The kiwi fruit is a cultivated agricultural product while the kiwi bird is a wild, flightless bird. Beyond their name and looks, they do not have much in common.
Conclusion
In summary, the kiwi fruit is a sweet, nutritious fruit that originates from China and gets its name from the brown, fuzzy kiwi bird of New Zealand. While they share the name “kiwi” and have similar brown fuzzy skins, the kiwi fruit and kiwi bird are very different organisms. The kiwi fruit is a cultivated plant product enjoyed for its flavor and nutrition while the kiwi bird is a unique flightless bird now endemic to New Zealand. Both are symbols of New Zealand in their own right despite their biological differences. Hopefully this overview helps explain exactly what connects and distinguishes the kiwi fruit and kiwi bird that share a common fuzzy name.
