About the Great Spotted Kiwi
The great spotted kiwi, great grey kiwi or roroa is a species of kiwi endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. The great spotted kiwi, as a member of the ratites, is flightless. It is the largest of the kiwi. The rugged topography and harsh climate of the high altitude alpine part of its habitat render it inhospitable to a number of introduced mammalian predators, which include dogs, ferrets, cats, and stoats. Because of this, populations of this species have been less seriously affected by the predations of these invasive species compared to other kiwi. Nonetheless, there has been a 43% decline in population in the past 45 years due to these predators and habitat destruction. This has led it to be classified as vulnerable. There are fewer than 16,000 great spotted kiwis in total, almost all in the more mountainous parts of northwest Nelson, the northwest coast, and the Southern Alps. A minority live on island reserves.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Apterygiformes |
| Family | Kiwis (Apterygidae) |
| Species | Apteryx maxima |
| Species Codes | grskiw1, GSKI |
| Conservation | VU Vulnerable |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Great Spotted Kiwi belong to?
The Great Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx maxima) belongs to the Kiwis family (Apterygidae), in the order Apterygiformes.
What is the conservation status of the Great Spotted Kiwi?
The Great Spotted Kiwi is classified as "Vulnerable" (VU) by IUCN Red List.
How can I identify the Great Spotted Kiwi?
The great spotted kiwi, great grey kiwi or roroa is a species of kiwi endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. The great spotted kiwi, as a member of the ratites, is flightless. It is the largest of the kiwi. The rugged topography and harsh climate of the high altitude alpine part of its habitat ...
Where can I report a Great Spotted Kiwi sighting?
You can log sightings of Great Spotted Kiwi on eBird (ebird.org) using species code grskiw1, or on iNaturalist.