The great spotted kiwi, scientifically known as apteryx haastii, is indigenous to New Zealand. They are usually found in snow covered mountains, alpine grasslands and mountain forests. The great spotted kiwis mostly reside in the alpine areas of New Zealand. Attempts to relocate the birds to other places besides New Zealand have not been fruitful.

Kiwis are flightless birds that have simple and undeveloped wing structures. They have small heads and small necks, and their bills are long and slender, ideal for catching insects and other small prey. Kiwis have a great sense of smell, and they rely heavily on their nostrils for hunting. They also have highly developed hearing.

The bird’s feathers are very soft, with a very smooth texture and they are usually colored from grey to light brown. Kiwis have very powerful legs and claws, used for defending themselves and attacking any adversary. They are fierce fighters if need be, and also fast runners when required.

The body temperature of Kiwis is much closer to that of human beings than other birds. Their bones are heavy, and filled with bone marrow unlike other birds. Generally, kiwis have very different features from ordinary birds. In fact, some scientists have referred to kiwis as ‘honorary mammals’.

The great spotted kiwis are distinctly different in size and weight between the male and female species. The females usually weigh more and are taller than the males. Another interesting discovery about the great spotted kiwi is that they are monogamous birds. They usually have one partner for two or three mating seasons. Sometimes, they maintain partnership even for life. Breeding usually takes place in late autumn, and the period of gestation before laying of eggs is usually about one month.

For the females, laying eggs is normally a taxing process, since one single egg can reach up to a quarter of their whole body. Since the egg takes up a big space in the body of the females, the do not feed during the gestation period. They only use preserved fat contained in their bodies for over five months prior to fertilization, to create the huge egg, highly rich in nutrients.

The gestation period is not comfortable for the female kiwi, and movement is restricted during this period. She often dips her body in cool puddles of water when she comes out, so as to soothe the unease due to the conception and development of the egg. After the egg has been laid, the males are responsible for incubation. They only leave the egg when going hunting for a few hours during the night whereupon the females stay guarding the egg.

The egg takes up to three months to hatch, and it takes the chick about two or three days to completely come out of the shell. During the first three days, the chick can hardly move. Great spotted kiwis are distinct from other species because they produce only one egg a year. Other species can produce up to six eggs yearly.