Since I have started this Wild Facts project, I have been fighting the urge to write about one of my favourite birds, the Dodo Bird. Of course I am having this conflict since this amazingly peculiar bird no longer exists on our planet. Therefore, I figured I would go to my second favourite bird, the Kiwi, and I thought I had better hurry up before this one is extinct too.  For the record, I may lose this battle with myself and write a Fact on the Dodo Bird at some point in time.  But not today! Today we celebrate the life of the interesting New Zealand bird, the Kiwi.

This flightless bird native to the jungles of New Zealand just happens to be their National Bird. Why wouldn’t this fuzzy little bird be so highly recognized, right? I mean, they look so cute, who wouldn’t want them as your National Bird. There are several species of Kiwi with sizes ranging between 25 cm – 45 cm (9.8″ – 17″) tall. Unfortunately, all species of Kiwi are listed as endangered as a result of deforestation and the introduction of invasive predators.

You may have noticed the large beak on the Kiwi.  Don’t say anything to them since they are a little sensitive about it but this disproportionate beak does serve a purpose. Just so you know their beak is roughly one-third the size of their body.  The Kiwi uses this long beak to search the forest floor for food such as berries, worms, insects and spiders.  Just think, they would hardly have to put their head down to reach the forest floor.

This particular bird has a very tough time living in one specific spot.  Each day the Kiwi will dig a burrow that it will rest in that night.  Once it wakes up it moves onto another spot to create a new burrow.  It seems like a lot of work to me but at least they get to see the countryside. The only time they manage to settle down is during nesting season.  The female Kiwi will lay a clutch of approximately 5 eggs which will take about 3 months to hatch.  I bet it is just killing those birds to sit still for 3 months. During this incubation period it is the male Kiwi that will do most of the work to ensure his baby eggs are kept warm. It is always nice when the father doesn’t abandon his children but I guess sitting on some eggs for 3 months is easier than paying child support for the rest of his life, right?

Kiwi Fast Fact – Believe it or not the Kiwi is believed to be related to a couple of other flightless birds, albeit much larger, the ostrich and the emu.  This makes the Kiwi the smallest member of that particular family and no doubt gets picked on during family gatherings.

That just about does it for me today.  Have a great day folks!  Before we sign off for the day make sure to check out the short clip (under a minute) of the Kiwi utilizing his beak to find some food.