A flightless nocturnal bird, native to New Zealand; small eyes; acute sense of smell (rare in birds); long curved bill with nostrils at tip; strong legs; tail and wings not visible through thick, shaggy plumage; usually inhabits woodland; eats worms, other invertebrates, and berries; nests in burrow. Its egg is the largest, relative to body size, of any bird (25% of the female's weight). (Genus: Apteryx, 3 species. Family: Apterygidae.)