the kiwis, named also kiwi, is approximately one full-grown chicken comparable in the size. So, they are the smallest run-birds at all (stand-height of 35 cm). The males are much smaller than the females.
The kiwis distinguish run-birds for itself from the remaining subordinations in many characteristics. Through the strongly receded breast-part, they act formally as "risilient persons." they seem to consist at all only of torso, beak and legs. The approximately 5 cm long wing-remains are hidden under the dense plumage. The tail-feathers typical for a bird are missing completely, also the thirteen energy-feathers hardly take off from the contour-feathers. its short, powerful legs with the 4 toes and powerful claws can spread it so far when running that they virtually to it-roll over the ground seems.
The long, flexible beak, that almost carries two lateral nose-holes at the top, is typical.
Way of life So, the food existing mainly from maggots and worms is probably located mainly over the well developed Riechvermögen. Like the snipes, the kiwis drill its beak fast into the forest-ground, pulls it slowly and carefully out, however, if loot was done.
As mainly night-active animals, the kiwis have only small eyes and no distinctive face-fortune. As guidance (Tastsinnesorgane), the long, hair-similar bristles serve presumably for it at the beak-reasons. On the day, they live very hidden and hide in caves under dense Pflanzenbewuchs.
Types Still today, 3 subtypes of the strip-kiwi (Apteryx australis) live in the gotten forest-areas of the North-island. A second type, the stain-kiwi (Apteryx owenii), only occurs in two subtypes on the South-island. Unfortunately, the continuance declined strongly through the effect of the human being in the last century. However, the kiwis stand under especially strict protection recently.
Brood Dependent on the subtype, the kiwis insert or two eggs. These are the bird-eggs biggest in the relationship to the total-weight of the bird at all. The smaller male broods in a ground-hollow hidden under foliage alone. Only after 75-80 days, the boys slip.
Many bird-types are to be found on New Zealand, but no one could attain the same "fame" like the kiwi. it appears not only as coat of arms-animal but becomes use for many New Zealand products ("kiwi-fruit", "kiwi-shoe-cream") as symbol.
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