Monday, December 21, 2009

picture of the day


kiwi. kiwi are flightless birds endemic to new zealand. at around the size of a domestic chicken, they are by far the smallest living ratites (flightless birds) and lay the largest egg in relation to their body size. There are five recognized species - all of which are endangered. kiwi are shy and usually nocturnal. Kiwi have a highly developed sense of smell, unusual in a bird, and are the only birds with notsrils at the end of their long beak. Once bonded, a male and female kiwi tend to live their entire lives as a monogamous couple. Kiwi eggs can weigh up to one quarter the weight of the female. Usually only one egg is laid per season. The kiwi lays the biggest egg in proportion to its size of any bird in the world, so even though the kiwi is about the size of a domestic chicken, it is able to lay eggs that are about six times the size of a chicken's egg.

2 comments:

  1. If Big Bird and Snuffalufagus had a baby they might have a rare "large" Kiwi?

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  2. :) i could see that. they're so weird. look so funny without wings.

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