North Island Brown Kiwi

About

The most widespread kiwi with shaggy reddish-brown plumage and a long pale bill. Nocturnal and territorial, using nostrils at the bill tip to sniff out invertebrates. Endemic to North Island, New Zealand. Endangered due to mammalian predators; subject to intensive conservation management.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Weight	2602.5 g	91.80 oz

Identification

Plumage

Coarse, bristly dark rufous-brown feathers heavily streaked with blackish-brown. Lacks visible wings and tail. Sexes similar but females larger. Bill long and pale ivory. Legs robust and pale.

Habitat & Range

Subtropical and temperate forests, scrubland, grassland, and modified pasture on North Island, New Zealand. Nests in burrows under tree roots. Tolerates some habitat fragmentation but requires predator control to survive.

🌲 Forest

Geographic Range

Endemic to New Zealand's North Island; occupies forest fragments from Northland to Wellington. Flightless, non-migratory, and nocturnal.

Diet & Feeding

Probes North Island soils nocturnally for earthworms, cicada larvae, and huhu grubs; takes forest fruits and freshwater invertebrates.

Conservation Status

Vulnerable

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: BU,CV. Incubation: 75-84 days. Fledging: 5-6 days.

Clutch Size

1-2

Sound

Song

Male gives a shrill, rising 'kee-wee-kee-wee', female a lower, rougher 'kurr-kurr-kurr'. Calls echo through North Island forest at dusk and dawn during their nocturnal forays.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Apterygiformes (Kiwis)
Family	Apterygidae (Kiwis)
Genus	Apteryx
Species	Apteryx mantelli

Distribution

North Island Brown Kiwi has been recorded in 1 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇳🇴 Norway

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the North Island Brown Kiwi eat?

Probes North Island soils nocturnally for earthworms, cicada larvae, and huhu grubs; takes forest fruits and freshwater invertebrates.

Where does the North Island Brown Kiwi live?

Subtropical and temperate forests, scrubland, grassland, and modified pasture on North Island, New Zealand. Nests in burrows under tree roots. Tolerates some habitat fragmentation but requires predator control to survive.

Is the North Island Brown Kiwi endangered?

The North Island Brown Kiwi has a conservation status of Vulnerable.

How does the North Island Brown Kiwi nest?

Nest type: BU,CV. Incubation: 75-84 days. Fledging: 5-6 days.

What does the North Island Brown Kiwi sound like?

Male gives a shrill, rising 'kee-wee-kee-wee', female a lower, rougher 'kurr-kurr-kurr'. Calls echo through North Island forest at dusk and dawn during their nocturnal forays.

How big is the North Island Brown Kiwi?

The North Island Brown Kiwi has a weight of 2602.5 g.

What order and family does the North Island Brown Kiwi belong to?

The North Island Brown Kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) belongs to the order Apterygiformes and the family Apterygidae.