Kiwi

kiwi (kē`wē) or apteryx (ăp`tərĭks), common name for the smallest member of an order of primitive flightless birds related to the ostrich, the emu, and the cassowary. The kiwi, named by the Maoris for its shrill, piping call, is most closely related to the extinct moa. 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, subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Struthioniformes, family Apterygidae.

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kiwi

Common kiwi (Apteryx australis)

(credit: Pictorial Parade)

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.

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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)

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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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Kiwi 

(also apteryx), a bird of the order Apterygiformes. Its wings are not fully developed, and there is no tail. The legs are strong, with sharp claws. The kiwi has soft plumage which covers the entire body evenly. The bill is long and flexible, with nostrils at its very tip. The eyes are small, but the senses of hearing and smell are well developed. The bird weighs 1.4–4.0 kg. There are three species, which are found in New Zealand. The largest is the brown kiwi (Apteryx australis), which inhabits both islands. The great spotted kiwi (A. haasti) and the little spotted kiwi (A. oweni) are found only on South Island. Kiwis are nocturnal birds that hide in humid evergreen forests. The brown kiwi lays one or two eggs, each weighing approximately 450 g, or one-eighth of the bird’s weight, in a burrow or under the roots of a tree. The male sits on the egg 75–77 days. Six days after hatching, the nestlings begin to feed independently. Kiwis feed on worms, insects, and fallen berries. The kiwi population has declined significantly. Its range has been reduced as a result of the introduction of predators to the island, such as cats, dogs, and weasels. Kiwis are protected by the government.