Apteryx australis
brown kiwi
(Also: tokoeka)

Apteryx australis, commonly known as brown kiwis, is located in the Australian biogeographic region. They are endemic to New Zealand, and reside on North Island (in Northland and Taranaki), South island (in Fiordland and Westland), and Stewart Island. (Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery™ Trust, Bank of New Zealand,, and Department of Conservatio, 2002; Burton, 1985; FONZ, 2006; Turbott, 1967)

Apteryx australis is considered by some authors to be made up of two, distinct species, corresponding to the previously recognized subspecies A. australis mantelli - now A. mantelli, and A. australis australis and A. australis lawryi - both retained within A. australis. North Island brown kiwis (A. mantelli) are the most common kind of kiwi, found only on the North Island of New Zealand. Apteryx australis includes populations on Stewart Island (A. a. lawryi) and South Island (A. a. australis), including populations in the Haast range and the fiordlands. Populations in the Haast range (Haast tokoekas) may represent a distinct species as well. (Baker et al., 1995)

The population of brown kiwis found in Okarito forests on the western coast of the South Island was recently recognized as a distinct species, Apteryx rowi, Okarito brown kiwis or rowis. It is thought that this species is made up of only 200 individuals currently. (Tennyson et al., 2003)

Brown kiwis live in subtropical and temperate forests and grasslands. They prefer to live in large, dark forest areas, which allow camouflage for the birds as they sleep during the day. In undisturbed habitats, kiwis create burrows under stones, banks of streams, or in soft flat open ground. In disturbed areas, these birds have had to adapt to human presence by establishing burrows in rough farmland under logs and shrubs. (Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery™ Trust, Bank of New Zealand,, and Department of Conservatio, 2002; FONZ, 2006; Olliver, 2005; Tourism New Zealand, 2006; Turbott and Keulemans, 1967)

Brown kiwis are members of the flightless ratite group (Struthioniformes). They are unique in their small size and adaptations to forest floor life. These birds are roughly the size of a chicken, with the female being slightly larger. They range in size from 45 to 54 cm long, and weigh from 2.8 to 3.5 kg. They are brownish grey in color with long, soft feathers that look and feel very fur-like. Their skin is tough and they have whiskers at the base of their bill used for touch. This is especially important for these birds because they have small eyes and poor vision. These birds do not have a tail and their 5 cm long wings prevent them from flying. Brown kiwis have powerful legs and can run quickly. The nostrils are at the end of their long bills and they have a keen sense of smell. The birds thrust their bill into the ground, gather the food, and beat the prey on the ground before they consume it. Other characteristics include heavy bone marrow, a body 35 degrees Celsius lower than any other bird, and underdeveloped pectoral muscles. (Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery™ Trust, Bank of New Zealand,, and Department of Conservatio, 2002; FONZ, 2006; Turbott, 1967; wikimedia, 2006; Williams, 1963; Willowbank Reserve, 2006)

The expected lifespan of brown kiwis after their first twelve months of their life is approximately 20 years in the wild. When in captivity, these birds usually live to be 30 years old, but some have lived up to 40 years. (Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery™ Trust, Bank of New Zealand,, and Department of Conservatio, 2002; Data Koncepts, 2006; FONZ, 2006; Olliver, 2005; Willowbank Reserve, 2006)

Brown kiwis are described as "honorary mammals" because they have some characteristics that are similary to many mammals. They are nocturnal, rely heavily on a sense of smell, and have feathers that resemble fur. Brown kiwis are shy and mainly solitary, but they will travel in companies of six to twelve. Being nocturnal is beneficial because it reduces competition, they can take advantage of food that is not available during the day, and the darkness brings safety from predators. Brown kiwis will attack if threatened but are more likely to try and escape a threatening interaction. During the day, brown kiwis will hide in their burrows and coil themselves into a ball until nightfall, when they search for food. (Burton, 1985; FONZ, 2006; Turbott and Keulemans, 1967; wikimedia, 2006)

Home Range

Their habitat ranges from sea level to areas that are 1,200 meters above ground. Territories range from five to 50 hectares, which is correlated to the quality of the area. Brown kiwis are known to be highly territorial. Once another bird enters their territory, they will cry out a call to warn that bird to leave or else prepare to fight. ("Wildanimalonline", 2006; Attenborough, 1998; Data Koncepts, 2006; FONZ, 2006; LA and HA Campbell, 2005; wikimedia, 2006)

Brown kiwis communicate through a cry, which sounds like a prolonged whistle slightly ascending and descending. Males make a mournful shriek, "kee-wee," and females have a low hoarse cry. Chicks tend to make a clicking sound. The cry indicates their presence at night, and helps in finding mates. They also congregate in companies from six to twelve. To hear the cry of brown kiwis, click here: http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/sound/brownkiwi2.wav (Olliver, 2005; Turbott and Keulemans, 1967; wikimedia, 2006)

Kiwis are unusual among birds in having a keen sense of smell. They have an enlarged olfactory bulb.

Brown kiwis are carnivorous, they feed mainly on soil and aquatic invertebrates such as worms, insects, crayfish, amphibians, and eels. They also eat fruit. At night, these birds use their long bills to dig deep into the ground to find creatures living on the ground. After they have caught something, they use their bills to beat the creature on the ground, or on stones to kill it before eating. Cone-shape holes left in the ground after hunting are easy ways to discover their occurrence in an area. ("Wildanimalonline", 2006; Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery™ Trust, Bank of New Zealand,, and Department of Conservatio, 2002; Willowbank Reserve, 2006)

Brown kiwis have many introduced predators, although they had few predators before dogs, pigs, cats, brush-tailed possums, and stoats were introduced to New Zealand. Dogs, pigs and cats tend to feed on adult birds. Stoats and cats feed on the young, and possums and stoats destroy kiwi eggs. ("World: Asia-Pacific Kiwis 'freefall' to extinction", 2006; Willowbank Reserve, 2006)

Brown kiwis are important predators of invertebrates and may disperse seeds through their fruit eating. (FONZ, 2006)

There are no known adverse affects of brown kiwis on humans.

Initially hunted to make cloaks and for food, kiwis, including brown kiwis, are the national symbol of New Zealand. Much pride is taken by displaying the kiwi on things such as the national currency, sports uniforms, road signs and mascots. (Data Koncepts, 2006; FONZ, 2006; Tourism New Zealand, 2006)

Brown kiwis are considered vulnerable by the IUCN. Currently, there are an estimated 27,000 brown kiwis. The primary threat to these birds is predation by introduced mammals. Populations seem to be declining. ("World: Asia-Pacific Kiwis 'freefall' to extinction", 2006)

The government of New Zealand has declared that if avian flu threatens New Zealand, every kiwi will be vaccinated due to the alarming decrease of kiwis. (CBS, 2006)

Although they are currently only found in New Zealand, fossil evidence has shown ancestors of brown kiwis occurred in the North Hemisphere in the Paleocene and Eocene, 40-70 million years ago. (Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery™ Trust, Bank of New Zealand,, and Department of Conservatio, 2002; Burton, 1985)