What is the most common type of kiwi?

Answer 1

Sources vary on this.

It is generally accepted that there are five species of kiwi.

• Brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli)
• Rowi, or Okarito Rowi (Apteryx rowi)
• Tokoeka (Apteryx australis)
• Great spotted kiwi or roroa (Apteryx haasti)
• Little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii)

According to the related weblink below, the Brown kiwi is then divided into four distinct groups: the Northland, Coromandel, western and the eastern brown kiwi; while the Tokoeka is also divided into four distinct groups - the Haast tokoeka, the northern Fiordland tokoeka, the southern Fiordland tokoeka and the Stewart Island tokoeka.

However, the 'Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand' by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, published 2010, lists seven species:

• Great Spotted (A. haastii)
• Little spotted (A. owenii)
• North Island Brown (A. mantelli),
• Okarito Brown (A. rowi)
• South Island Brown (A. australis australis)
• Southern brown (A. australis)
• Stewart Island brown (A. australis lawryi)

Answer 2

Sources vary on this.

It is generally accepted that there are five species of kiwi.

• Brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli)
• Rowi, or Okarito Rowi (Apteryx rowi)
• Tokoeka (Apteryx australis)
• Great spotted kiwi or roroa (Apteryx haasti)
• Little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii)

The Brown kiwi is then divided into four distinct groups: the Northland, Coromandel, western and the eastern brown kiwi; while the Tokoeka is also divided into four distinct groups - the Haast tokoeka, the northern Fiordland tokoeka, the southern Fiordland tokoeka and the Stewart Island tokoeka.

However, the 'Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand' by the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, published 2010, lists seven species:

• Great Spotted (A. haastii)
• Little spotted (A. owenii)
• North Island Brown (A. mantelli),
• Okarito Brown (A. rowi)
• South Island Brown (A. australis australis)
• Southern brown (A. australis)
• Stewart Island brown (A. australis lawryi)

Answer 3

The most common type of kiwi is the North Island Brown Kiwi. Although it is only found on the North island, it is estimated to have a population variously estimated as being between 25,000 and 35,000, which is more than any of the other kiwi species.