Facts about kiwi

It's a curious bird, the kiwi, it cannot fly, has loose, hair-like feathers and long whiskers. Largely nocturnal, it burrows in the ground, is the only bird known to have nostrils at the end of its bill and literally sniffs out food. It also has one of the largest egg-to-body weight ratios of any bird - the egg averages 15 per cent of the female's body weight (compared to two per cent for the ostrich).

The kiwi is related to the ostrich of Africa, the emu of Australia and the now-extinct moa of New Zealand. Females are larger than males and with brown kiwi, the male does most of the egg incubating. Kiwis live in pairs and mate for life, sometimes as long as 30 years.

Hear a kiwi call

Male North Island brown kiwi (MP3, 558K)

35 second recording of a male brown kiwi calling his mate.

Female North Island brown kiwi (MP3, 2252K)

2 minute 24 second recording of a female brown kiwi calling her mate.