Little Spotted Kiwi

About

The smallest kiwi weighing around 1 kg, with pale grey plumage finely barred with brown. Nocturnal and insectivorous. Now survives mainly on predator-free Kapiti Island after mainland extinction from introduced predators. Population recovering under intensive management.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Weight	1296.5 g	45.73 oz

Identification

Plumage

Fine, soft grayish-white feathers with intricate brown and black barring producing a mottled spotted pattern. Smallest of all kiwis. Sexes similar but females larger. Hair-like plumage texture.

Habitat & Range

Dense podocarp and broadleaf forest and shrubland on predator-free offshore islands including Kapiti Island, New Zealand. Nests in burrows or rock crevices. Requires moist soil with dense understorey.

🌲 Forest 🌾 Grassland

Geographic Range

Restricted to Little Barrier, Kapiti, and a few other offshore islands of New Zealand. Flightless and sedentary; critically endangered.

Diet & Feeding

Probes leaf litter and friable soil for small earthworms, beetle larvae, and spiders on Kapiti Island; supplements with native berries.

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: BU,CV. Incubation: 63-76 days. Fledging: 14-21 days.

Clutch Size

1-2

Sound

Song

Male gives a very high-pitched 'ki-ki-ki' whistle; female call is lower and slower 'kriii'. The smallest kiwi; its voice is correspondingly higher-pitched than its relatives.

Taxonomy

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

Distribution

Little Spotted 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 Little Spotted Kiwi eat?

Probes leaf litter and friable soil for small earthworms, beetle larvae, and spiders on Kapiti Island; supplements with native berries.

Where does the Little Spotted Kiwi live?

Dense podocarp and broadleaf forest and shrubland on predator-free offshore islands including Kapiti Island, New Zealand. Nests in burrows or rock crevices. Requires moist soil with dense understorey.

Is the Little Spotted Kiwi endangered?

The Little Spotted Kiwi has a conservation status of Near Threatened.

How does the Little Spotted Kiwi nest?

Nest type: BU,CV. Incubation: 63-76 days. Fledging: 14-21 days.

What does the Little Spotted Kiwi sound like?

Male gives a very high-pitched 'ki-ki-ki' whistle; female call is lower and slower 'kriii'. The smallest kiwi; its voice is correspondingly higher-pitched than its relatives.

How big is the Little Spotted Kiwi?

The Little Spotted Kiwi has a weight of 1296.5 g.

What order and family does the Little Spotted Kiwi belong to?

The Little Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx owenii) belongs to the order Apterygiformes and the family Apterygidae.