IUCN Conservation Status –
Least Concern
Extinct In The Wild
Class: Birds
Order: Apterygiformes
Family: Apterygidae
We are home to the only kiwi bird in the UK! Please be aware that our kiwi, Manu, is nocturnal so you are not likely to see him during your day visit to the zoo.
Native to parts of New Zealand’s northern island, the kiwi prefers to live dense, sub-tropical and temperate forests.
The northern brown kiwi’s diet includes insects, worms, amphibians, berries and fruits.
Interesting facts!
- The kiwi has a long and curved bill with nostrils located near the tip. This unique adaptation helps the kiwi during foraging because it locates its prey by smell rather than by sight.
- Kiwi are flightless birds, mainly because they have heavy bones that are filled with marrow!
- This fantastic bird holds the world record for laying the largest eggs relative to its body size.
Conservation
The biggest threats to the northern brown kiwi are habitat loss and predation by predators such as dogs, cats and stoats.
