The little spotted kiwi, aka little grey kiwi or kiwi pukupuku, is the smallest species of kiwi. This flightless bird hails only from a few restricted small offshore islands and mainland New Zealand reserves and is protected by pest-exclusion fences. These birds face the threat of the only remaining potential predator on the islands, the weka. The other threat to their existence is that of inbreeding and the potential of sterilization and other defects as a result. This species is slowly attempting to recover from a bottleneck of only 5 individuals, including just 2 females. These birds are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. However, their numbers are slowly increasing.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Apteryx owenii
Weight: Up to 4.25 lbs.
Length: Up to 18 inches
Wingspan: Up to 1 inch
Lifespan: Up to 45 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) These birds were considered extinct on the mainland, with no recorded sightings since 1978, until their rediscovery in the wild in 2025.
2.) They were first described by English ornithologist John Gould in 1847.
3.) At 1 time, these kiwis had an obligate louse that parasitized on them, Rallicola pilgrimi. In an example of conservation-induced extinction, all lice were killed when the kiwis were translocated to Kapiti Island.
4.) These birds prefer flax, seral, and older forest habitats.
5.) Earthworms, beetle larvae, caterpillars, crane fly larvae, spiders, and the berries from the hinau tree are all readily consumed.
But wait, there’s more on the little spotted kiwi!
6.) Like all kiwis they are nocturnal (active at night).
7.) Females lay up to 2 eggs that hatch in up to 76 days.
Did you know…?
There are only an estimated 1,500 wild individuals remaining, to date.
8.) The eggs measure up to 4.33 inches long by 2.76 inches wide and weigh up to 10.62 ounces!
9.) In circa 2000, roughly 20 little spotted kiwis were released into Zealandia. This was the first time since the 19th century that they could be found on the mainland of the North Island.
10.) During May 2025, 40 birds (20 males & 20 females) were translocated from Kapiti Island to the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary in Nelson, the largest fenced sanctuary in the South Island. The last known population to have lived in that region disappeared nearly a century ago.
Now a Short Little Spotted Kiwi Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
