North Island Brown Kiwi
Apteryx mantelli
A large, dark grayish brown kiwi with reddish brown streaking. The only kiwi found in the wild on the mainland of New Zealand’s North Island. Found in both native and exotic forest, scrub, and neighboring farmland. More often heard than seen. Male call is a series of clear rising whistles. Female call is a harsh throaty wail. Both sexes repeat their call many times. Often heard at night foraging as it sniffs loudly, tapping the ground for invertebrates. Could be confused with Weka by voice and shape; look for the kiwi’s much longer bill and lack of tail, and listen for its multisyllabic call.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Apteryx mantelli
- Authority
- Bartlett, AD, 1852
- Order
- Apterygiformes
- Family
- Apterygidae
- Genus
- Apteryx
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Watercock
Gallicrex cinerea
Large, distinctive marsh dweller, elusive and often difficult to see in the heavily vegetated wet fields and marshes it inhabits. Male is unmistakable, with black body, brown-edged wing coverts, and red-and-yellow bill with raised, spiky red frontal shield (unlike smaller moorhen). Females and immature are similarly large but speckled brown above with tan faces, and lack male’s frontal shield. Males are very vocal when breeding, producing liquid-sounding gulps comparable to a water bottle emptying. Both sexes make a range of incisive, guttural clucking and creaking calls, as well as a sharp “keek” in alarm.
African Cuckoo-Hawk
Aviceda cuculoides
Slim, long-winged, mid-sized raptor with oddly cuckoo-like markings. Has fairly weak, floppy flight and rarely soars. Generally uncommon species of thick savannah, woodland, and forest edge. Call is a long, mournful whistle. Although its shape is distinctive with practice, cuckoo-hawks can be confused with many other raptor species. Note the widely spaced rufous barring on the belly, and the small crest. Cuckoo-hawks are much slower and weaker fliers than any of the goshawks or sparrowhawks.
Cape Robin-Chat
Dessonornis caffer
Pretty robin-chat with a short white eyebrow and a rufous chest. This is the only robin-chat with a gray belly. The outer tail feathers are orange, which can be conspicuous in flight. Found in many different habitats, including fynbos, scrub, heath, gardens, forest edge, and thicket. More fond of open habitats than other robin-chats. Away from South Africa, only found in the mountains. Song is a typical thrush-like series of inquisitive, cheerful notes.
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