David Attenborough's Life Stories

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BBC Radio 4 Extra

Factual: Pets & Animals

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Series of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants

Series of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants from around the world

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David Attenborough's Life Stories: Series 2: Kiwi

Kiwi

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 Extra - David Attenborough's Life Stories, Series 2, Kiwi

David Attenborough muses over the peculiar Kiwi, a bird more mammal-like in its habits.

The Kiwi is New Zealand’s last remaining flightless bird.  Sir David explains exactly why it's so peculiar.  From 2011.

New Zealand had several species of flightless bird living across the islands, all of which are now extinct, bar one. 

The Kiwi has become one of those species iconic of the country, like the Koala to Australia, the Giraffe to Africa and the Alpaca to South America. 

Historically, New Zealand didn't have ground predators such as wild cats and stoats - which allowed birds to exploit living on the ground. Being flightless in New Zealand was a good way to be a bird. 

Having filmed Kiwis, Sir David Attenborough muses on the niche the Kiwi occupies on the ground. He argues the Kiwi behaves more like a mammal than a bird, but what mammal do you think, in his view, the Kiwi most resembles..?

Producer: Julian Hector

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2011.

David Attenborough's Life Stories: Series 2

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