It can?t fly; has nostrils at the end of its long beak; cat-like whiskers; the body temperature of a mammal; sharp claws and strong legs to defend itself; lays an egg six times larger than that of a chicken; is ground-dwelling; lives in a burrow; can swim; and is nocturnal. The kiwi is one of the avian world?s most unusual creatures.

Most New Zealanders have never seen a kiwi in the wild. Yet, this endangered bird is a nation icon, proudly displayed emblem and the nickname by which New Zealanders are known around the world.