Reading Comprehension: True or False

The Amazing Kiwi Bird

The kiwi is New Zealand's national bird and one of the most unusual birds in the world. Despite being a bird, the kiwi cannot fly. Its wings are so tiny—only about 3 centimetres long—that they are completely hidden beneath its shaggy, hair-like feathers. These feathers are quite different from the smooth feathers of most birds and help the kiwi blend into the forest floor.

Kiwi are nocturnal creatures, which means they are active at night and sleep during the day. They have very poor eyesight, but this doesn't cause them many problems. Instead, they rely on their excellent sense of smell to find food. The kiwi is the only bird in the world with nostrils at the end of its long beak, which it uses to sniff out worms, insects, and berries hidden in the soil.

These remarkable birds are roughly the size of a chicken, but they lay extraordinarily large eggs. In fact, a kiwi egg can weigh up to 450 grams, which is about 20% of the mother's body weight. This is the largest egg in proportion to body size of any bird in the world!

Sadly, kiwi are endangered. There are only around 68,000 kiwi left in New Zealand, and their numbers are declining. Introduced predators such as stoats, ferrets, and cats pose the biggest threat to kiwi, particularly to their chicks. Conservation groups across New Zealand are working hard to protect kiwi habitats and raise awareness about these special birds.