Great Spotted Kiwi

Great Spotted Kiwi:  The Great Spotted Kiwi, Great Gray Kiwi, or Roroa, Apteryx haastii, is a species of kiwi endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. The Great Spotted Kiwi, as a member of the Ratites, is flightless. It is the largest of the kiwi.  There are about 22,000 Great Spotted Kiwis in total, almost all in the more mountainous parts of northwest Nelson, the northwest coast, and the Southern Alps. A minority live on islands. 

This kiwi is highly aggressive, and pairs will defend their large territories (49 acres) against other kiwi.Great Spotted Kiwi are nocturnal, and will sleep during the day in burrows. At night, they feed on invertebrates and will also eat plants.  The egg is the largest of all birds in proportion to the size of the bird. Chicks take 75 to 85 days to hatch, and after hatching, they are abandoned by their parents.Great Spotted Kiwis are the largest of the kiwis, the male is 45 cm (18 in) tall, while the female is 50 cm (20 in) tall.

 Great Spotted Kiwi

 

Great Spotted Kiwi

 Great Spotted Kiwi

Great Spotted Kiwi