New Zealand is home to many unique and fascinating birds, but one species stands out as the country’s most iconic feathered friend: the kiwi. Kiwis are flightless, nocturnal birds that hold a special place in New Zealand’s natural heritage and culture.
Kiwis are endemic to New Zealand, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. There are five species of kiwi remaining today, all of which are threatened to some degree. The birds have suffered major declines since humans arrived in New Zealand due to habitat loss, predation by introduced mammals, and other threats. As a result, kiwis have become a symbol of New Zealand’s distinctive natural landscapes and the need to protect the country’s rare flora and fauna.
But what exactly is the kiwi’s scientific name? This beloved icon actually has several names depending on the species. Read on to learn the taxonomic names for each type of kiwi and what makes them unique.
The Five Species of Kiwi
There are five remaining species of kiwi in New Zealand today:
North Island Brown Kiwi
Scientific name: Apteryx mantelli
The North Island brown kiwi is the most widespread and numerous of the five kiwi species. However, populations have declined by over 50% since the 1990s. These medium-sized kiwi reach about 18 inches in height and weigh between 3-8 lbs. Their feathers feature streaks and bars of reddish-brown and gray. North Island brown kiwi are found throughout the northern and western parts of the North Island.
Rowi
Scientific name: Apteryx rowi
The rarest kiwi species is the rowi from the Okarito region on the South Island’s West Coast. Rowi have grown critically endangered with only about 400 remaining. They are the smallest kiwi species, reaching 15 inches tall and weighing only 2-3 lbs. Rowi feature a grey-brown coloration. Intensive conservation efforts are underway to protect remaining rowi populations.
Little Spotted Kiwi
Scientific name: Apteryx owenii
As their name suggests, little spotted kiwi are the smallest of the brown kiwi species. They reach about 18 inches in height but weigh only 3-5 lbs. Remaining populations number less than 1,200 individuals. As the name suggests, their plumage is mottled with white speckles and bands on a brown background. Little spotted kiwi only occur on Kapiti Island and in a few protected sanctuaries.
Great Spotted Kiwi
Scientific name: Apteryx haastii
Great spotted kiwi are the largest of the brown kiwi and one of the biggest overall species. These kiwi grow up to 20 inches tall and weigh 5-10 lbs. Their speckled gray and brown plumage provides camouflage in their forest habitat. Originally found throughout the South Island, only about 17,000 great spotted kiwi remain in northwest Nelson and the Southern Alps.
Southern Brown Kiwi
Scientific name: Apteryx australis
Southern brown kiwi once inhabited most of the South Island but are now restricted to remote southern and western regions and Stewart Island. They reach 18 inches in height and weigh 4-8 lbs. Their feathers feature streaks of reddish-brown and gray. Around 25,000 southern brown kiwi remain. Rigorous predator control programs have helped populations stabilize in some areas.
Kiwi Characteristics
As a family, kiwis exhibit some unique traits and adaptations:
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Flightless | Kiwi lack a keel on their breastbone to anchor flight muscles. Their small wings are useless for flight. |
| Nocturnal | Kiwi are mostly active at night and sleep during the day in burrows. |
| Long beak | They have a long, slender, distinctive beak with nostrils at the tip. The beak has many sensory cells useful for foraging. |
| Strong legs | Their legs are muscular and powerful for running and rapid digging. |
| Long lifespan | Kiwi may live 30-50 years in the wild. |
These adaptations all help the kiwi thrive in its niche. For example, they forage for insect larvae, worms, fruits and other foods by probing the ground with their beak. Their nocturnal activity patterns help avoid predators like hawks. Burrowing offers protection and nest sites. Overall, kiwi have evolved as a highly specialized species occupying a unique ecological role in New Zealand.
Kiwi Habitat and Distribution
Kiwi once populated both main islands of New Zealand as well as smaller offshore islands. They inhabited a diverse range of ecosystems including native forests, subalpine areas, swamps, beaches, grasslands and scrublands.
However, habitat loss and predation have caused major declines and regional extinction of some species. Today, wild kiwi persist in a fraction of their former range, mostly in remote, rugged country unsuitable for human settlement and agriculture. Sanctuaries that control predators have also become important strongholds.
The Department of Conservation manages a national kiwi recovery program with the goal of sustaining all species in the long term. Captive breeding, predator control, habitat restoration and population monitoring help protect remaining kiwi. However, all wild populations remain at risk to some degree. Ongoing conservation efforts will be necessary to ensure New Zealand retains viable, wild kiwi populations.
The Cultural Significance of Kiwi
Kiwi hold a cherished place in New Zealand’s national identity and culture. Their uniqueness to the country and human-like characteristics have made them icons. Kiwi frequently appear in advertisements, cartoons, souvenirs, books and as mascots for sports teams. The term “kiwi” is also used as an affectionate nickname for New Zealanders themselves.
New Zealanders have a sense of shared pride and responsibility in protecting this rare, vulnerable species. Conservation projects enjoy widespread public support. The kiwi’s image links back to a history of Māori reverence for nature and modern New Zealander’s abiding love for their natural heritage. Kiwi serve as symbols of the country’s singular wildlife. Their loss would represent an enormous cultural blow.
Threats Facing Kiwi
Several factors have caused the decline of kiwi in modern times:
Habitat Loss
The clearing of native forests for timber and agriculture removed huge areas of former kiwi habitat. Forest fragmentation isolated populations, preventing gene flow. Kiwi require large, intact forest domains.
Predation
New mammal predators like stoats, ferrets, cats, rats and possums prey heavily on kiwi eggs and chicks. These mammals were introduced by early European settlers. Kiwi lacked defenses against them.
Human Impacts
Direct human activities also threaten kiwi through vehicle collisions, fishing nets and habitat degradation. Unleashed dogs frequently attack kiwi.
Natural Threats
Harsh weather, food limitations and native bird predators like the weka and ruru owl can impact kiwi survival. Disease outbreaks occasionally occur in some populations as well.
Kiwi Conservation Strategies
Various methods aim to protect kiwi in the wild and captive settings:
Predator Control
Trapping, poisoning and exclusion fencing limit predator populations in kiwi zones. This helps reduce attacks on eggs and chicks.
Captive Breeding
Special breeding programs produce young kiwi that are raised in predator-free enclosures. These can later be released to boost wild populations.
Public Education
Teaching residents and tourists not to let dogs roam in kiwi habitats and drive carefully reduces human threats.
Habitat Protection
Preserving native forest remnants and parenting kiwi strongholds maintains necessary habitat.
Fun Kiwi Facts
- Kiwi eggs can be up to 20% of the female’s body weight. That’s the equivalent of a 120 pound human giving birth to a 24 pound baby!
- Chicks hatch fully feathered and are immediately able to run, forage and defend themselves.
- The kiwi is the only bird with nostrils at the end of its beak. Their excellent sense of smell helps find food.
- The Māori believed the kiwi’s partly subterranean existence connected it spiritually to underground realms.
- Kiwi vocalizations include hissing, snorting and loud, resonant booming calls.
- Small hairs line the kiwi’s beak and nostrils to help locate prey by touch when buried.
- Kiwi pairs mate for life and share parental duties. Males incubate eggs and protect chicks.
- Their name may come from their “kiwi” call or a Māori word meaning “no ordinary bird.”
- Kiwi have a relatively huge egg compared to their body size – one of the largest of any bird.
- The most serious threat to rowi kiwi is stoat predation, which can kill up to 80% of chicks.
Conclusion
New Zealand’s iconic kiwi birds have fascinated the world with their unusual, quirky characteristics and importance in New Zealand culture. Yet despite their beloved status, all kiwi species have declined and remain under threat in the wild. Ongoing conservation efforts are critical to protect these unique, vulnerable birds for future generations. The kiwi’s future is closely tied to New Zealand’s natural and cultural heritage. If kiwi can persist and recover with dedicated help, it offers hope for the country’s singular wildlife.
