The Little Spotted Kiwi is also known as Little Gray Kiwi, and goes by the scientific name Apteryx owenii. This bird happens to be a small species of kiwi originally from New Zealand’s South Island that was captured around 1890 and 1910, and later released on Kapiti Island. The Little Spotted Kiwi has a weight range of 0.9-1.9 kg and a length range of 35–45 cm. The male has a typical weight range of 0.9–1.3 kg, while that of the female is 1–1.9 kg. The feathers of the Little Spotted Kiwi are pale-mottled gray, with fine white mottling, and are shaggy looking. Interestingly, these birds do not have aftershafts and barbules. However, they have large vibrissae feathers around the gape. Though they lack a tail, they have a small pygostyle. The bill of the Little Spotted Kiwi is long and ivory, and they are also in possession of pale legs.

The Little Spotted Kiwi, after being released on Kapiti Island, was later moved to Red Mercury Island, Hen Island, Tiritiri Matangi Island, and Long Island in the Queen Charlotte Sound. About 20 of them were released into the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 2000. According to research, these birds prefer flax, seral and older forest. They occur in lower numbers in rough grassland and scrub.

This bird loves to eat grubs and other small insects that like to burrow far into the ground. Furthermore, it loves to eat certain types of fruits. It possesses sharp talons and long beak which aid it in its feeding habits. With the sharp talons, it digs into the ground and then shoves its long beak down the soft ground. Owing to poor eyesight, it has been compensated with a keen sense of smell.

The nest of these birds happens to be an excavated burrow, dug by both male and female, and sometimes lined with plant material. The recorded clutch size happens to be one to two eggs, and the incubation period falls within 63-76 days. The male solely takes charge of incubation, and the hatched chicks stay in the nest for 2-3 weeks, requiring feeding for 4 weeks.