kiwi (kē`wē) or apteryx (ăp`tərĭks), common name for the smallest member of an order of primitive flightless birds related to the ostrich ostrich, common name for a large flightless bird (Struthio camelus) of Africa and parts of SW Asia, allied to the rhea , the emu and the extinct moa .
..... Click the link for more information. , the emu emu or emeu (both: ē`my
..... Click the link for more information. , and the cassowary cassowary (kăs`əwâr'ē)
..... Click the link for more information. . The kiwi, named by the Maoris for its shrill, piping call, is most closely related to the extinct moa moa (mō`ə) [Maori], common name for an extinct flightless bird of New Zealand related to the kiwi , the emu, the cassowary, and the
..... Click the link for more information. . It is the size of a large chicken and has short, stout legs and coarse, dark plumage that hides the rudimentary wings. It lacks wing and tail plumes and walks with a rolling gait. It is the only bird whose nostrils open at the tip of the bill, which is 6 in. (15 cm) long, slender, and curved. Kiwis hide during the day and forage at night for grubs and worms. Their eyesight is poor; the long, hairy bristles at the base of the bill are believed to have a tactile function which is thought to supplement their keen sense of smell in hunting. Kiwis nest in underground burrows, the male performing the incubational duties. The one or two chalky white eggs are 5 in. (12.5 cm) long, weigh almost 1 lb. (0.5 kg), and take from 75 to 80 days to hatch. The three living species of kiwi, genus Apteryx, have dwindled with the advance of agriculture and the introduction of predators such as cats, weasels, and stoats, but they are now rigidly protected by law. The kiwi is the symbol of New Zealand and appears on the seal, coins, stamps, and on various products of its homeland; overseas New Zealand troops are popularly called kiwis. Kiwis are classified in the phylum Chordata Chordata (kôrdā`tə,–dä`–)
..... Click the link for more information. , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Struthioniformes, family Apterygidae.
Any of three species (genus Apteryx) of chicken-sized, grayish brown ratite birds, found in New Zealand. Their Maori name refers to the male's shrill call. Kiwis have vestigial wings hidden within the plumage; nostrils at the tip (rather than the base) of the long flexible bill; soft, hairlike feathers; and stout, muscular legs. Each of the four toes has a large claw. Kiwis live in forests, where they sleep by day and forage for worms, insects and their larvae, and berries at night. They run swiftly and use their claws in defense when cornered.
kiwi
kiwi [′kē‚wē]
..... Click the link for more information. , the emu emu or emeu (both: ē`my
..... Click the link for more information. , and the cassowary cassowary (kăs`əwâr'ē)
..... Click the link for more information. . The kiwi, named by the Maoris for its shrill, piping call, is most closely related to the extinct moa moa (mō`ə) [Maori], common name for an extinct flightless bird of New Zealand related to the kiwi , the emu, the cassowary, and the
..... Click the link for more information. . It is the size of a large chicken and has short, stout legs and coarse, dark plumage that hides the rudimentary wings. It lacks wing and tail plumes and walks with a rolling gait. It is the only bird whose nostrils open at the tip of the bill, which is 6 in. (15 cm) long, slender, and curved. Kiwis hide during the day and forage at night for grubs and worms. Their eyesight is poor; the long, hairy bristles at the base of the bill are believed to have a tactile function which is thought to supplement their keen sense of smell in hunting. Kiwis nest in underground burrows, the male performing the incubational duties. The one or two chalky white eggs are 5 in. (12.5 cm) long, weigh almost 1 lb. (0.5 kg), and take from 75 to 80 days to hatch. The three living species of kiwi, genus Apteryx, have dwindled with the advance of agriculture and the introduction of predators such as cats, weasels, and stoats, but they are now rigidly protected by law. The kiwi is the symbol of New Zealand and appears on the seal, coins, stamps, and on various products of its homeland; overseas New Zealand troops are popularly called kiwis. Kiwis are classified in the phylum Chordata Chordata (kôrdā`tə,–dä`–)
..... Click the link for more information. , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Struthioniformes, family Apterygidae.
kiwi
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Common kiwi (Apteryx australis)
(credit: Pictorial Parade)
kiwi
any nocturnal flightless New Zealand bird of the genus Apteryx, having a long beak, stout legs, and weakly barbed feathers: order Apterygiformes (see ratite)
kiwi [′kē‚wē]
(vertebrate zoology)
The common name for three species of nocturnal ratites of New Zealand composing the family Apterygidae; all have small eyes, vestigial wings, a long slender bill, and short powerful legs.
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