Photo: Glen Fergus / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Brown Kiwi
Apteryx australis
Southern Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis) — Ratites & Tinamous of Australia & Oceania.
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The Southern Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis) is a member of the Apterygidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 2.3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Apterygiformes
- Family Apterygidae Kiwis
- Genus Apteryx
- Species australis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.3 kg
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Apterygidae
- Order
- Apterygiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Brown Kiwi is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Southern Brown Kiwi is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis) is a species of bird in the Apterygidae family, part of the order Apterygiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU sw South and Stewart Is. (New Zealand).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.3 kg, with a wing length of about 0 cm and a tail of around 0 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 11,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Brown Kiwi?
The Southern Brown Kiwi is a very large bird that weighs around 2.3 kg.
Where does the Southern Brown Kiwi live?
The Southern Brown Kiwi is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU sw South and Stewart Is. (New Zealand), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Southern Brown Kiwi belong to?
The Southern Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis) belongs to the Apterygidae family, in the order Apterygiformes.
What does the Southern Brown Kiwi eat?
The Southern Brown Kiwi is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Southern Brown Kiwi migrate?
The Southern Brown Kiwi is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern Brown Kiwi endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Southern Brown Kiwi make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Brown Kiwi can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Brown Kiwi's range?
The Southern Brown Kiwi has a mapped global range of about 11,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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