Little Spotted Kiwi: One of the Most Well-known yet Rarest Kiwi Birds

The Little Spotted Kiwi is perhaps one of the most well-known of the Kiwi species because of their small size. However, sadly, it is one of the rarest of the Kiwi species. The Little Spotted Kiwi originated from Kapiti Island off the coast of New Zealand.

While the Little Spotted Kiwi is low in numbers, they actually inhabit many different areas. Although they originated from the Kapiti Island, they can also be found in many other islands. For example, they have been seen on Tiritiri Matangi Island, Red Mercury Island, Mana Island, Long Island and also Hen Island. It is, however, their largest numbers that have been seen on Kapiti Island. Sadly, even their largest number is fairly low, and actually is only an approximate of 1000 in numbers. There are not many of them left anymore. Thus, it is extremely important for us to protect them, and help their population increase so that they do not become an extinct population. The reason that there are more Kiwis on Kapiti Island is perhaps because there are not many predators there that will prey on them.

The Little Spotted Kiwi actually looks very similar to the other kiwis except that they are smaller in size and have spots on them. They have small, round plumages, and three little toes which are extremely important and essential in their life. The Little Spotted Kiwi, like the other kiwis, needs their toes to dig burrows for them which become their habitat. They have a long, curved bill with good smelling senses on the top of it. Also, they have long shaggy-looking feathers; in fact, their feathers sometimes do not even look like feathers, and look like long hair.

Their long, curved bill and their good ability to smell is what helps them survive. The kiwi has small eyes, and poor eyesight; thus, they need to rely on their sense of smell to run away from predators and to dig up food. The nostrils at the tip of their bill help them locate food when they are digging with their bills looking for them in the ground. Their bills are powerful and have the ability to tug at their prey until they come out.