Great Spotted Kiwi

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(New page: '''Common Name:''' Great Spotted Kiwi<br> '''Māori Name:''' Roroa<br> '''Scientific Name:''' Apteryx haastii '''Size:''' 19.6-23.6 inches (50-60 cm); '''Bill Length:''' 3.5-3.9 inches (9...)
Foraging is nocturnal and often in pairs. They search for food by probing in soil and natural hollows, including rotten logs and grass tussocks. They use their bills to pierce snail shells. They are able to reach items up to 3 feet (1 m) above ground by walking along trees leaning out from hillsides.
Foraging is nocturnal and often in pairs. They search for food by probing in soil and natural hollows, including rotten logs and grass tussocks. They use their bills to pierce snail shells. They are able to reach items up to 3 feet (1 m) above ground by walking along trees leaning out from hillsides.
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'''Nesting:''' Sexes are similar in plumage, however the female is larger and longer-billed than the male. It is a flightless nocturnal bird with rotund appearance. It lacks a visible tail and has a very long, straight-looking bill and short, thick legs. The plumage appears hair-like. The head is dark blackish-gray, becoming paler in the neck area. There is a small patch of darker color below each eye and long black bristles around the base of the bill. The hind neck and upper-parts are yellow-gray with the back tinged chestnut. There is irregularly barred brownish-black markings throughout the torso. The chest is light gray with darker barring and the lower belly is paler and tinged buffish. Some individuals are mottled gray all over, while others are more ginger in color. The iris is blackish-brown and the bill is pale horn to pink-cream colored. Sometimes the upper mandible is gray. The legs are brown with darker scutes (bony plates over the toes) and paler skin between them. The claws are off-white with variable dark pigmentation. This species differs from [Little Spotted Kiwi]|''A. owenii'' by its’ larger size, grayer appearance, and more regular plumage pattern with larger black spots. The juvenile is similar to adult, but with smaller, softer feathers. There is no real ‘downy stage’ in this species. The claws in juveniles are black.
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'''Nesting:''' Sexes are similar in plumage, however the female is larger and longer-billed than the male. It is a flightless nocturnal bird with rotund appearance. It lacks a visible tail and has a very long, straight-looking bill and short, thick legs. The plumage appears hair-like. The head is dark blackish-gray, becoming paler in the neck area. There is a small patch of darker color below each eye and long black bristles around the base of the bill. The hind neck and upper-parts are yellow-gray with the back tinged chestnut. There is irregularly barred brownish-black markings throughout the torso. The chest is light gray with darker barring and the lower belly is paler and tinged buffish. Some individuals are mottled gray all over, while others are more ginger in color. The iris is blackish-brown and the bill is pale horn to pink-cream colored. Sometimes the upper mandible is gray. The legs are brown with darker scutes (bony plates over the toes) and paler skin between them. The claws are off-white with variable dark pigmentation. This species differs from [[Little Spotted Kiwi|''A. owenii'']] by its’ larger size, grayer appearance, and more regular plumage pattern with larger black spots. The juvenile is similar to adult, but with smaller, softer feathers. There is no real ‘downy stage’ in this species. The claws in juveniles are black.
Kiwis are monogamous, although females in lowland sites can sometimes be polyandrous. Breeding season occurs from July through November. The nest is built in a natural hollow, sometimes under vegetation, or in a short burrow at least 20 inches (50 cm) deep, that is dug by the birds themselves. The nest is lined at its end with a thick layer of plant material. Great spotted kiwis are distinguishable from other kiwi species by the fact that they can only produce one egg a year, as it takes so much energy to produce the massive egg. The coloring is white with pale bluish or greenish tinge. Unlike other species of kiwi, incubation is performed by both sexes with the female taking nest duties at night. Kiwis hatch fully feathered and leave the nest unaccompanied at 1 week of age. This kiwi has the average life expectancy of 15 years.
Kiwis are monogamous, although females in lowland sites can sometimes be polyandrous. Breeding season occurs from July through November. The nest is built in a natural hollow, sometimes under vegetation, or in a short burrow at least 20 inches (50 cm) deep, that is dug by the birds themselves. The nest is lined at its end with a thick layer of plant material. Great spotted kiwis are distinguishable from other kiwi species by the fact that they can only produce one egg a year, as it takes so much energy to produce the massive egg. The coloring is white with pale bluish or greenish tinge. Unlike other species of kiwi, incubation is performed by both sexes with the female taking nest duties at night. Kiwis hatch fully feathered and leave the nest unaccompanied at 1 week of age. This kiwi has the average life expectancy of 15 years.

Revision as of 16:56, 6 February 2016

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