The kiwi is the flightless bird recognized as a national symbol of New Zealand.
Kiwi are endemic to New Zealand and belong to the genus Apteryx. They are unusually distinctive birds: their shaggy, hair-like feathers, tiny vestigial wings, short legs, and long flexible bills make them easy to recognize. Unlike most birds, kiwi have nostrils at the tip of the bill, helping them locate worms and other invertebrates in forest soil.
The bird’s cultural importance is reflected in the word “Kiwi,” which is widely used as an informal demonym for New Zealanders. The Māori name is generally thought to imitate the bird’s call. Kiwi are mostly nocturnal, partly because New Zealand evolved with very few native land mammals before human settlement.
Kiwi are not a single species: five living species are recognized. They are also not the same as the fuzzy brown fruit, although the shared name often causes confusion. Habitat loss and introduced predators such as stoats, dogs, cats, and pigs have made conservation programs and predator-free sanctuaries essential.