How Much Does a Kiwi Bird Cost?

Last Updated on March 31, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

The Kiwi Bird is one of the most interesting bird species in the world, mostly due to its unusual characteristics and weird looks. This bird originated in New Zealand, a country that uses it as its national icon to this day.

How much does a kiwi bird cost?

The Kiwi bird is considered an endangered species of bird. This means that you can’t buy or sell it anywhere in the US. There are currently five known species of Kiwi birds and all of them are on the endangered birds list, especially due to their predators and their natural environments getting damaged or limited due to human intervention.

Even if you were to go to New Zealand, the bird’s home, and managed to find a Kiwi available for sale, you won’t be prohibited from exporting it according to New Zealand laws. And even if you somehow managed to get one in your home as a pet, they are known to be really shy and would hide most of the days, but more about this later in the article.

You might also like our articles about the cost of an Emu bird, an owl, or a penguin.

If you really like Kiwis and want to help them somehow, you can still donate money to breeding programs, and institutions that make efforts for saving the kiwi bird.

Can You Own a Kiwi Bird in the US?

No, aside from buying and selling the bird, you aren’t allowed to own a kiwi bird as a pet either in any US state.

There are still some ways to get close to these flightless birds if you’re an enthusiastic avian lover.

The most popular option is to find a mainland zoological park inside the United States where Kiwi birds are housed or a Kiwi sanctuary that is open to the public. One of the most popular ones is the San Diego Zoo.

This will enable you to look at different Kiwis species behind a glass, while also learning a lot about their general behavior.

You can even participate in an “adopt-a-kiwi” program, usually provided by institutions dedicated to the conservation of the birds and preservation of their natural environments.

Would Kiwis Make For Good Pets?

Even if they were available for sale, Kiwis wouldn’t be considered great pets pet birds to own.

They are not only very sensitive to any human contact, but they also need a unique environment and habitat, as well as a very specialized diet.

They are also nocturnal birds and will usually eat insects in the wild.

This is why it is rather hard to replicate a Kiwi’s natural diet in captivity if you want to become the owner of one. It might also be pretty frustrating for you as an owner to only be able to have contact with the bird in the nighttime.

Kiwis don’t really like human contact, although, with a lot of work, some caretakers have managed to form strong bonds with these birds.

Also, kiwis are known to need a lot of open space and thick vegetation for a happy life. They need enough space so that they can roam free. These are just some of the reasons that make them some of the most difficult exotic birds to have as pets.

They become stressed pretty easily when handled and will avoid close contact with humans as much as possible.

This is another reason why Kiwis are not the best choice for a cuddly pet and it might not make sense to keep a kiwi bird.

Tips to keep in mind

The bird has a roundish build and can grow to about 16 inches to 18 inches high, weighing around 7 pounds usually. The bird breeds differ in size and are found in pretty different areas, primarily in forests. The Kiwi finds its nest in thick greenery, burrows, and hollow logs.

The female kiwi bird, typically, is bigger and weighs more than the male.

The male and female kiwis carry out dance rituals throughout the breeding season, normally from March up until June. The kiwis are loyal companions to one another and might stick with each other till one passes away. When the female produces an egg, its weight will be around 15 percent of the female kiwi’s body weight. The bird can be protective as it would protect its area and its chicks and would make bird calls to let other birds know if any predators are around.

One special characteristic of the kiwi bird is that it can not fly as its wings do not have any muscle to aid with flying. Nevertheless, the adult kiwi bird has very powerful feet, making it a quick runner, helping it walk around rapidly to prevent threats from predators.

This brown kiwi bird has a long beak – about one-third of its body. The bird has nostrils at the tips of its extended beak, and its body is covered with hair-like plumes. The wings are physically combined with the remainder of the body in a manner that you might need to take a better look to actually see them.

The nostrils work in probing and seeking foods such as bugs, worms, fallen fruits, seeds, little worms, and invertebrates. Its sense of smell is extremely developed and the bird utilizes it to the very best advantage – looking for food. The bird is nocturnal, being active in the evening to avoid predators.

In the wild, the Kiwi bird can live from 25 to 50 years depending upon the kind of species and its geographical location.

As already pointed in the article, you won’t be able to own a kiwi bird, so you should look for another type of exotic pet. If you’re really into birds, there are a lot of parrots of a bigger size that are easier to obtain and are great pets to own.