Quick Kiwi Fact

It is the only known bird to have external nostrils at the end of its beak, and one of the few birds to have a good sence of smell.

At night a Kiwi can often be heard making snuffling noises, which is caused by the bird trying to clear dirt out of its nostrils when it is searching for food.

Quick Kiwi Fact

Eggs are smooth, and coloured ivory or greenish-white.
Kiwi eggs are proportionately larger compared to the size of the adult female than the eggs of any other bird.

An egg may reach one-quarter of its mother’s weight.

After the first egg is laid, the male takes over incubation and nest maintenance. Incubation takes about eleven weeks but if the female returns to lay another egg, the male has to sit on the clutch for a much longer time. Leaving the nest only occasionally, the male’s weight can decrease by up to one third.

Quick Kiwi Fact

FACT; Female kiwis are larger than the males.

Quick Kiwi Fact

Kiwis eyesight is poor and they use their keen sense of smell to find worms, spiders, insects, fresh water crayfish, frogs and grubs.

Kiwi bird diet includes leaves, berries and seeds too. Most kiwis are carnivores, but sometimes they are omnivores, as they eat fruits and seeds.

Quick Kiwi Fact

The kiwi is the only bird known to have nostrils at the end of its bill and literally sniffs out food.

Quick Kiwi Fact

Kiwis have coarse, hair-like feathers and whiskers and most of them are grayish-brown in color.

Quick Kiwi Fact

Kiwi birds are the smallest among the flightless birds, like, emu, ostrich, cassowary, etc.

Quick Kiwi Fact

So we thought we should inject a few random facts about kiwis - not the people, not the fruit, but the bird. Afterall, some google searchers may stumble across our site when wanting info on the feathery version!

Best start with an actual photo or two of the bird ...

FACT: The Kiwi's name doesnt come from its call, but from the Polynesian name for the Bristled- Thighed Curlew, the Kivi. This bird has the same way of feeding as the Kiwi, by poking it's long beak into soft ground.