The Little Spotted Kiwi - Apteryx owenii - is a smallest species of Kiwi, about the size of a bantam, originally from South Island, New Zealand. They are nocturnal forest dwellers, and they remain in a shelter burrow during daylight hours.

Their feathers are pale-mottled gray, with fine white mottling, and are shaggy looking. The bill is ivory and long and their legs are pale.

The little spotted kiwi tends to eat grubs and other small insects that like to burrow far into the ground, and also will eat certain types of fruit. Hence the sharp talons and long beak. It digs into the ground with its talons then shoves its long beak down the soft ground. Since they can't fly to get to insects or food on trees and their eyesight is poor, they depend on a keen sense of smell, long beak and talons.

The breeding season is between September and February. They nest in an excavated burrow, dug by both birds and sometimes line the nest with plant material. The clutch size is one to two eggs, and are incubated by the male for a period of between 63 to 76 days. After hatching they stay in the nest for 2–3 weeks and require feeding for 4 weeks. The largest egg in comparison with the size of the bird is laid by the Little Spotted Kiwi. Its egg accounts for 26 percent of its own weight—the equivalent of a human woman giving birth to a six year old child.

Conservation Status – Near Threatened