The kiwi is a flightless, nocturnal bird from New Zealand with a long, sensitive beak.
Kiwi belong to the bird order Apterygiformes and are among the smallest ratites, the group that also includes ostriches, emus, cassowaries and rheas. Unlike those larger birds, kiwi have nostrils at the very tip of the bill. This unusual placement helps them detect worms, grubs and other invertebrates in soil and leaf litter.
Kiwi are mostly active at night, although individuals in predator-free sanctuaries may sometimes appear during daylight. Their ancestors evolved in New Zealand, where native land mammals were almost absent before humans arrived. Introduced predators such as dogs, cats, stoats and rats now pose a major threat, especially to chicks.
A common mix-up is treating kiwi as a single species. Five living species are recognised, including the North Island brown kiwi and the little spotted kiwi. The word “kiwi” can also mean the fruit or a New Zealander, depending on context.