Southern Brown Kiwi
Apteryx australis
The Southern Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis) is a rare kiwi found only in New Zealand, weighing about 2.3 kg. The southern brown kiwi, tokoeka, or common kiwi is a species of kiwi from South Island of New Zealand.
About the Southern Brown Kiwi
The southern brown kiwi, tokoeka, or common kiwi is a species of kiwi from South Island of New Zealand. Until 2000 it was considered conspecific with the North Island brown kiwi, and still is by some authorities.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
It has no preen gland, and its feathers have no aftershafts and no barbules. There are large vibrissae around its gape, and it has no tail, only a pygostyle. This species has a length of 45 to 55 cm (18–22 in) and the female weighs 2.1 to 3.9 kg (4.6–8.6 lb) and the male weighs 1.6 to 2.8 kg (3.5–6.2 lb). Its bill is long and slender with a slight down-curve. Like other kiwis it is nocturnal. The colour of its plumage is rufous with some streaking. Voice: Southern brown kiwi communicate vocally to aid in defending their territory. They will also sing duets with each other, with the male shrill "kee-wee" or "kee-kee" and the females hoarse "kurr kurr". Males are more vocal and they both call in an upright position with their legs stretched out and their bill pointing up.
What the Southern Brown Kiwi sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Southern Brown Kiwi?
- It has no preen gland, and its feathers have no aftershafts and no barbules. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Southern Brown Kiwi?
- The Southern Brown Kiwi is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.3 kg.
- Where can you see a Southern Brown Kiwi?
- The Southern Brown Kiwi is endemic to New Zealand, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What does a Southern Brown Kiwi sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Southern Brown Kiwi on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Southern Brown Kiwi?
- The Southern Brown Kiwi is most easily confused with the North Island Brown Kiwi, the Little Spotted Kiwi and the Okarito Kiwi.
- Is the Southern Brown Kiwi endangered?
- The Southern Brown Kiwi is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Southern Brown Kiwi for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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