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Stewart Island Kiwi

Tokoeka

Apteryx australis lawryi

Plumage is soft to the touch. It has grey-brown upper parts, streaked with black. Grey under parts streaked with brown. Beak is slate grey, darker along the ridge and blue grey feet. The iris is black. Kiwi were liberated on Ulva Island and have increased to perhaps 30 birds. While kiwi are generally nocturnal Stewart Island Kiwi are often seen during daylight.

The female is larger than the male and Stewart Island Kiwi are largest of all Kiwi.

Size 500 mm

Can be seen any time of year. We see sign regularly and hear them from our house from time to time.

Probability of seeing ...Low unless on a kiwi watch tour, or visiting Mason Bay.

Recently a local woman went out onto her balcony at 0200 to deal to what she thought was a possum she had heard in her pot plants and instead found a Kiwi rootling around in her azaleas.


Male & then Famale calling. Birds pair for life, A pair will usually feed separately, but call to each other at regular intervals throughout the night
Kiwi feeding at Mason Bay,.
Kiwi fighting at Mason Bay, Kiwi are highly territorial and older birds will drive off younger ones looking to establish a territory
Kiwi seen on Ulva at 4pm, Stewart Island Kiwi are often seen during daylight, even at midday
Kiwi feeding in Manuka forest Their nostrils are at the very tip of the beak, with the entire length full of olfactory glands. The have a highly developed sense of smell