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Story: Kiwi

North Island brown kiwi

Audio file

The North Island brown kiwi is the most numerous kiwi, although it has become confined to three inland areas. It is quite an aggressive little bird, with spiky plumage. It is a proficient runner, and when alarmed can outrun a human being and zigzag at the same time. It has even been known to roll head over heels downhill. Listen also to the distinctive call of the brown kiwi.

Using this item

The Roving Tortoise

by Tui De Roy

Sound file from Birds of New Zealand. Compact disc. © Viking Sevenseas NZ (PO Box 152, Paraparaumu), 1980. All rights reserved.

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) is an infringement of copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Kiwi – Kiwi species, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/natural-sounds/10162/north-island-brown-kiwi (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Judy
01 September 2015
Up to date information. Thanks.
Julia
16 June 2015
Wow. very impressed buy the great depth of your (who are you please?) good display of our lovely national Bird, the Kiwi, ive seen them in captivity and find them intriguing and a very vital part of natures rhythms and beauty, thank you very much.
billy
11 November 2011
lovely text i really helped me with my report and gave me the key features i needed