How to Identify Kiwi Birds

The Kiwi bird is a national symbol of New Zealand. This very distinctive and unusual bird is a vulnerable bird whose populations are decreasing throughout New Zealand. If you want to learn how to identify these unusual birds, here's how.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Know where to find the Kiwi bird. These birds are indigenous to New Zealand's islands in the south Pacific Ocean The Brown Kiwi is the most widespread Kiwi in New Zealand.

2. Observe the appearance of Kiwi birds. They have nostrils on the end of their long beaks, sharp three-toed feet and long whiskers on their faces. Their feathers are more like mammal hairs that hang loose. These feathers can be coarse in texture and they don't have wings like other birds.

3. Learn about the five types of Kiwis and their different feather patterns, such as spotted patterns on the Great Spotted Kiwi and the Little Spotted Kiwi.

4. Take note of the variable sizes of Kiwi birds, with the largest Kiwi being the Great Spotted Kiwi, at 45 cm tall and weighing 3.3 kg. The Little Spotted Kiwi is only 25 cm tall and weights 1.3 kg. Female Kiwis tend to be larger than male Kiwis.

5. Listen to the call of the Kiwi bird. The Kiwi's call sounds similar to a "creee-creee-creee" sound.

6. Watch the unusual behavior of the Kiwi. It doesn't fly like most other birds; rather it walks. The Kiwi can also run fast, sometimes able to outrun a human. The Kiwi is a nocturnal bird who is very shyt

Tips & Warnings

• There are currently five different kinds of Kiwi birds. These include the Great Spotted Kiwi, the Little Spotted Kiwi, the Brown Kiwi, the Rowi Kiwi and the Tokoeka Kiwi. The classification of Kiwis is always evolving and changing, however.