The population of the Brown Kiwi is estimated at 25,000, and out of this, 8000 inhabit the Northland region. These birds are tough, stroppy and possess spiky feathers. The Brown Kiwi prefers lowland and coastal indigenous forest, but the huge changes to New Zealand’s original forest cover mean the Kiwi must be adaptable. Truly, they have proven to be adaptable as they are currently found living in many different types of vegetation, including exotic forests and rough farmland.

Interestingly, the Kiwis have their territories ranging from 2 to 100 hectares depending on their food supply of insects and berries in any given area. The male Kiwi happens to be fiercely territorial. It’s been realized that the original absence of mammal predators for Kiwi really allowed them to make their homes in many different environments, from snowy tussock lands to sand dune burrows; from mossy forest floors to rough grassland. This bird really loves to sleep and nest in simply constructed, one entrance burrows. The burrow may be dug in the earth of a bank or slope, and they use their strong legs and claws to loosen the earth and push it out and away from the entrance. However the Kiwi may have its day shelter being in a hollow tree, under a log, in a rock crack or within a dense clump of vegetation.

The Kiwi is fond of prolific breeding; they usually mate for life, producing huge eggs. Once predators are taken away, the Kiwi is sure to be successful once again. Interestingly, it so happens that the egg of the Kiwi is one of the largest in proportion to body weight of any bird in the world. Those found in Northland produce their eggs at any time during the year. The eggs undergo an incubation period of about 75 days, during which time the male is in charge of the nurturing role. The chicks hatch as mini-adults that are fully feathered and open-eyed. After five days, they leave the burrow to forage for themselves.