Kiwi Bird

Check out this adorable animated short, about a little Kiwi who just wants to fly.

Being flightless isn’t the only thing that makes New Zealand’s beloved Kiwi bird special. Did you know that it is the only bird in the world with nostrils at the end of its beak? But it doesn’t stop there. With the possible exception of the hummingbird, the female Kiwi has the largest egg of any bird in the world, in proportion to its body size. The Kiwi bird is about the size of a chicken, with coarse hair-like feathers, and barely weighs ten pounds, but its egg is more the size of one from an ostrich. The females are larger than the males; which is good since she’s the one that has to lay the enormous egg.

Although it’s the national bird of New Zealand, few have actually seen one in the wild because they are secretive and semi-nocturnal. They live primarily in the native forests, but have been known to inhabit native grasslands. There are actually five kinds of Kiwi birds, with the Little Spotted Kiwi, the Brown Kiwi, and the Great Spotted Kiwi being the most closely related. The Kiwi is the last surviving member of the ancient Apterygiformes-Ratitae order of birds, which includes the now extinct Moas (pictured below); also flightless but much larger than the Kiwi.

An exceptional sense of smell and a long flexible bill aids the Kiwi bird when searching for and feeding on insects, worms, and grubs. They also like to eat seeds, berries, and leaves. The flightless Kiwi does have tiny wings, which no more than two inches in length, and are basically useless. They are also missing a tail. But don’t let their small and odd appearance deceive you; a Kiwi bird can outrun you. Since ancient times, the Kiwi bird has survived, using its keen alertness and sharp three-toed feet, which enable the bird to slash an enemy.

For more information on the Kiwi bird, visit Chemistry.co.nz

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