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Kiwis (birds)
Solitary and nocturnal birds, Kiwis are three species of small, forest-dwelling, flightless birds found in New Zealand. They are New Zealand's national symbol and are protected by law from being hunted. After a period of decline, these birds are now relatively abundant in some areas. Learn more about Kiwis in this category.
500 Questions
Who's bigger kiwi or kokako?
Asked by Wiki User
When it comes to the birds structure and size, the kiwi bird is bigger than the kokako bird. The kiwi bird is known to be native to New Zealand.
What are some adjectives that describe kiwi and begin with the letter K?
Asked by Wiki User
green, hairy, sour, bitter
What is being done to help increase number and protect kiwis?
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There are a number of conservation programmes in place to protect the kiwi and (hopefully) increase its numbers.
The Kiwi Recovery Programme was initiated by the New Zealand government in 1991, and has been financially supported by the Bank of New Zealand and the Forest and Bird Society.
Research has been undertaken to learn more about the kiwi's needs and breeding habits. It is believed that 95% of young chicks do not survive past their first six months, and so captive breeding programmes have been established to improve the number of chicks. "Operation Nest Egg" involves the hatching of kiwi eggs in protected places such as Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre, Auckland Zoo or Native Bird Recovery Centre in Whangarei, and releasing the chicks when they are much older. This has increased the survival rate of chicks to as much as 85%. Also, the use of DNA testing has enabled people involved in breeding programmes to identify unrelated kiwi that would breed stronger chicks by minimising in-breeding.
In addition, there are kiwi sanctuaries at Coromandel, Tongariro Forest, Okarito, Haast and Whangarei.
Trust and protection plans include:
- Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust
- Rainbow Springs
- Moehau Environment Group
- Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust
- Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust
What sense does the kiwi primarily use in its search of food?
Asked by Wiki User
The kiwi primarily uses its acute sense of smell when searching for food.
Kiwi are unusual birds with their nostrils located at the tip of their beak, and they have a very highly developed sense of smell, being able to smell out food beneath the surface of the ground. Kiwi will dig their beaks into the ground to a depth that extends the entire length of the bill in order to find earthworms and other invertebrates.
Do kiwi birds live in Brazil?
Asked by Wiki User
No, kiwi (the bird) come from New Zealand and they are native to New Zealand. Kiwifruit comes from New Zealand also, but they are also called the Chinese Gooseberry.
How big is a fully grown kiwi?
Asked by Wiki User
Compared to watermelons, they are small
Compared to lemons, they are just the right size!
Do cats eat kiwi birds?
Asked by Wiki User
No, kiwis live in New Zealand while coyotes are found in North America.
Can you find kiwi birds in zoos?
Asked by Wiki User
Kiwi are found in some overseas zoos. In 2010, a brown kiwi made news in the National Geographic when it successfully hatched a chick in captivity in the Washington Zoo.
The Smithsonian National Zoo has a kiwi cam.
How do kiwis evade predators?
Asked by Wiki User
Kiwi birds have an excellent sense of smell, so yes.
What other birds are kiwi birds related to?
Asked by Wiki User
Kiwi are ratites. The ratites are a group of flightless birds that originated in Gondwana, a prehistoric continent from which Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, South America, Antarctica, Africa and New Guinea split off.
The ratites include:
* emu from Australia * cassowary from New Guinea * ostrich from Africa * rhea from South America * kiwi from New Zealand
* moa (extinct) from New Zealand * Elephant bird (extinct) of Madagascar According to DNA research kiwi are most closely related to emu and cassowaries.
Where are kiwis found in New Zealand?
Asked by Wiki User
The kiwi is endemic to New Zealand. Its natural habitat is native forests but it is now found in kauri and coniferous forest where the undergrowth is dominated by tree ferns, as well as temperate rainforests. However, due to habitat clearing, the kiwi is now forced to survive in semi-wooded forest, scrubland and agricultural areas.
Different species inhabit different areas of New Zealand.
- the Haast Tokoeka kiwi is found in high sub-alpine tussock grasslands of the South Island
- the Brown kiwi is found only on the North Island
- the Southern Tokoeka is found only in the far south of the South Island, as well as Stewart Island
- the great Spotted kiwi is found in forest areas in the north of the South Island
- the Rowi, or Okarito Rowi, is rare, and found only around Okarito
For a distribution map, see the related link.
What is the only known bird to have nostrils at the tip of its beak?
Asked by Wiki User
Most birds possess nostrils, often known as "nares". The nostrils are usually located on the part of their beak nearest the bird's head.
The kiwi differs from other birds in that it is the only type of bird to have its nostrils located at the far tip of its beak.
Can you name me five different types of flightless birds?
Asked by Wiki User
Here are some flightless birds: Non-Extinct: * Emu * Ostrich * Penguin * Grebes * Kiwi * Rhea * Domestic Turkey * Silkie Extinct: * Moa * Dodo * Elephant Birds * Giant Hoopoe * Reunion Sacred-Ibis * Red Rail * Cuban Flightless Crane * Stephens Island Wren There are many more, go to Wikipedia to see them, I have only named a few.
Where are birds ears located on the head?
Asked by Wiki User
On the side, behind the cheek patch. It looks like a slit or small hole under the feathers.
Did kiwis originally come from Australia?
Asked by Wiki User
The kakapo originated in Gondwanaland, and when the great continent split apart, they were confined to the same place where they are found now, which is New Zealand. Kakapo are endemic to New Zealand, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world.
Is the kiwi a fish?
Asked by Wiki User
Yes, it is! The kiwi is a flightless bird from the genus Apteryx. It is also the name of a fruit.
Until 1995, three species of kiwis were recognized by scientists, but after genetic research, five species are now admitted :
- Common kiwi, also called tokoeka (Apteryx australis)
- Brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli)
- Kiwi d'Okarito (Apteryx rowi)
- Little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii)
- Great spotted kiwi (Apteryx haastii)
Kiwis live in New Zealand. Most are vulnerable according to IUCN's Red List, and Apteryx mantelli is endangered.
What type of teeth do brown kiwis have?
Asked by Wiki User
No. Kiwi do not have teeth. A kiwi is a small, flightless bird with a long bill, and most certainly no teeth.
What is the size of the kiwi bird?
Asked by Wiki User
The kiwi varies in size according to the species. On average, they are around the size of a domestic chicken, with the smallest speies, the Little Spotted Kiwi, being a little larger than a bantam chicken.
Where are kiwis found?
Asked by Wiki User
The kiwi is endemic to New Zealand. Its natural habitat is native forests but it is now found in kauri and coniferous forest where the undergrowth is dominated by tree ferns, as well as temperate rainforests. However, due to habitat clearing, the kiwi is now forced to survive in semi-wooded forest, scrubland and agricultural areas.
Different species inhabit different areas of New Zealand.
- the Haast Tokoeka kiwi is found in high sub-alpine tussock grasslands of the South Island
- the Brown kiwi is found only on the North Island
- the Southern Tokoeka is found only in the far south of the South Island, as well as Stewart Island
- the great Spotted kiwi is found in forest areas in the north of the South Island
- the Rowi, or Okarito Rowi, is rare, and found only around Okarito
