What does the North Island Brown Kiwi eat?

The North Island Brown Kiwi's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Omnivore (primarily insectivore/invertivore)

How it forages

Primarily insectivorous/invertivorous. Forages by probing its long bill into the soil and leaf litter to detect and extract invertebrates such as earthworms, beetle larvae, cicada larvae, wētā, spiders, and snails. Also consumes fallen fruit, fungi, and some plant material. Uses its keen sense of smell to locate prey.

When it feeds

Nocturnal. Active from dusk until dawn, foraging and moving through its territory. Roosts in burrows, hollow logs, or dense vegetation during the day.

Explore the North Island Brown Kiwi