Kiwis are omnivores, and their diet consists mainly of insects, worms, and other invertebrates found on or below the forest floor. They also eat fruit, seeds, and occasionally small vertebrates, such as lizards. Kiwis have a unique feeding strategy that involves using their long, sensitive beak to probe the soil and leaf litter for food. They have also been known to use their beaks to smell out prey, which is unusual for birds. One special food consumed by kiwis is the fruit of the karaka tree, which is toxic to most animals but is an important food source for some kiwi populations.