Apteryx maxima
The Great Spotted Kiwi, Apteryx haastii, is the largest and arguably most imposing of New Zealand's iconic kiwi species, a flightless, nocturnal ratite endemic to the South Island. Standing approximately 45-58 cm (18-23 in) tall and weighing between 1.5-3.3 kg (3.3-7.3 lb), these robust birds are characterized by their coarse, hair-like, grey-brown plumage, distinctively mottled with pale grey or brownish-white spots, providing superb camouflage in their dense forest habitats. Its long, pale,...
Found primarily in high-altitude native forests, subalpine scrublands, and tussock grasslands of the South Island, preferring areas with dense undergrowth and abundant leaf litter for foraging.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a diverse range of invertebrates including earthworms, beetle larvae, spiders, and wetas. Supplement their diet with fallen fruit and some leaves, foraging by probing with their long, sensitive bill.
Strictly nocturnal, the Great Spotted Kiwi spends its days roosting hidden in burrows, hollow logs, or dense vegetation. Its foraging strategy is highly specialized; it probes the soil with its long bill, relying on its exceptional sense of smell and tactile vibrissae to detect earthworms, insect...
The Great Spotted Kiwi is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, where its distribution has become increasingly fragmented. Its core breeding range is now largely restricted to the mountainous and forested regions of the northwest, including Kahurangi National Park, the Paparoa Range, and pa...
Vulnerable
- The Great Spotted Kiwi lays the largest egg in relation to its body size of any bird species, often weighing up to 20% of the female's body weight. - It is the only bird in the world with nostrils at the very tip of its long bill, giving it an unparalleled sense of smell for finding food in the...