Skip to main content

Story: Land birds – overview

Kiore at kākāpō nest

Image
Kiore at kākāpō nest

A kiore, or Polynesian rat, snoops around the nest of a kākāpō. Kākāpō eggs and chicks are vulnerable to rats, especially when the mother has left the nest to feed.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10038688

by Don Merton

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Land birds – overview – Extinct, endangered and threatened species, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9912/kiore-at-kakapo-nest (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerry-Jayne Wilson, published 1 March 2009.