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The S'''outhern brown kiwi''' or '''Tokoeka''' (Apteryx australis) is a species of kiwi, a flightless bird endemic to New Zealand. | The S'''outhern brown kiwi''' or '''Tokoeka''' (Apteryx australis) is a species of kiwi, a flightless bird endemic to New Zealand. | ||
== In a nutshell == | |||
* Southern brown kiwi, tokoeka, or common kiwi (Apteryx australis) is a species of flightless bird from South Island, New Zealand. | |||
* It belongs to the order Apterygiformes, which includes all kiwis, and is a ratite, meaning it has no keel on its sternum. | |||
* It has no preen gland, no tail, and no aftershafts or barbules on its feathers. It has large vibrissae around its gape and a long slender bill with nostrils at the tip. | |||
* It has rufous plumage with some streaking and varies in size from 45 to 55 cm in length and 1.6 to 4 kg in weight. Females are larger than males. | |||
* It is divided into two subspecies: the Fiordland tokoeka (A. a. australis) and the Stewart Island tokoeka (A. a. lawryi). Some conservationists also recognize the Haast tokoeka (A. a. \"Haast\") as a distinct subspecies. | |||
* It inhabits temperate and sub-tropical forests, grasslands, shrublands, and sand dunes. It is nocturnal and forages for invertebrates, fallen fruits, and leaves using its keen sense of smell. | |||
* It is monogamous and territorial. It communicates with vocalizations, such as the male's shrill \"kee-wee\" or \"kee-kee\" and the female's hoarse \"kurr kurr\". It lays one or two eggs in a burrow and the male incubates them for about 90 days. The chicks are precocial and leave the nest after about a week. | |||
* It is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat loss, predation by introduced mammals, and diseases. Conservation efforts include predator control, habitat protection, and translocation to predator-free islands. | |||
== Description == | == Description == | ||