Kea Trivia

Kea are alpine parrots and inhabit temperate and subtropical/tropical moist lowland forests, shrubland, grassland, and even artificial terrestrial habitats, such as pastureland and urban areas.

Kea are alpine parrots and inhabit temperate and subtropical/tropical moist lowland forests, shrubland, grassland, and even artificial terrestrial habitats, such as pastureland and urban areas.

Kea are alpine parrots and inhabit temperate and subtropical/tropical moist lowland forests, shrubland, grassland, and even artificial terrestrial habitats, such as pastureland and urban areas.

Kea are alpine parrots and inhabit temperate and subtropical/tropical moist lowland forests, shrubland, grassland, and even artificial terrestrial habitats, such as pastureland and urban areas.

The kea is endemic to the Oceania continent.

Kea nest in holes, under logs, in rocky crevasses, burrows under rocks, and among tree roots, mainly within forest.

Kea nest in holes, under logs, in rocky crevasses, burrows under rocks, and among tree roots, mainly within forest.

Kea have dominance hierarchies, but these hierarchies are not necessarily linear. For example, an adult male may be dominant to a subadult male, who is dominant to a juvenile male, who, in turn, is dominant to the adult male.

Kea are opportunistic, omnivorous parrots.

A male kea is called a cock.

Kea are diurnal, rising in the early morning to begin calling and then foraging until late morning. They generally roost during the middle of the day and begin foraging again in the evening, sometimes until after dark, when they go to roost for the night on tree branches.

The leaves, buds, and nuts of southern beeches (Nothofagus) are especially important in the kea diet.

Kea are important for New Zealand’s tourism industry and attract crowds when they convene on automobiles.

Kea have a polygynous mating system. Males fight for dominance, and the hierarchy is strict.

Kea are currently classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

The common name kea is from Māori, an onomatopoeic representation of their loud, in-flight call, keee-aa.

The kea’s scientific name is Nestor notabilis.

It has been proposed that life in an extreme alpine environment has encouraged kea to opportunistically and inquisitively explore their surroundings. Increasingly, the parrots have come into contact with human habitations, sometimes foraging at refuse dumps, ski fields, and cabins.

It is unknown exactly how many kea are left in the wild. Estimates range from only 2,000 to 5,000 birds. The current population has been estimated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species to number 6,000 individuals. A conservative estimate of one adult female per 2,000 hectares of forest gives a total population of 4,000 mature individuals in the population. Productivity estimates predict one juvenile for every breeding pair, giving a total population of about 6,000 birds.

The male feeds the female a regurgitated meal and mounts her.

Kea hatchlings are altricial and fledge after 13 weeks.

The timing of the kea’s daily activities varies with the weather. Kea are fairly heat-intolerant and spend more time roosting on hot days.

Kea are evaluated as “Not a Migrant” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Introduced mammalian predators, such as stoats (Mustela erminea), domestic cats (Felis catus), and brushtailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) have spread into most of the kea’s range.

Introduced mammalian predators, such as stoats (Mustela erminea), domestic cats (Felis catus), and brushtailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) have spread into most of the kea’s range.

Introduced mammalian predators, such as stoats (Mustela erminea), domestic cats (Felis catus), and brushtailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) have spread into most of the kea’s range.

Kea are highly intelligent, social birds.

Parrot-smuggling is a lucrative business, and kea are often captured and exported for the black market pet trade.

Kea can live 14.4 years in captivity. Lifespan in the wild has not been thoroughly studied, but the oldest recorded wild bird was at least 22 years of age.

Although kea populations appeared stable in 2001, especially in national parks and other protected areas, their population trend is currently decreasing and continuing to decline rapidly.

Kea have gained a reputation for attacking sheep (Ovis aries), although they usually only prey on wounded or diseased sheep.

The male is about 5% longer than the female and and females weigh about 20 percent less than males.

A group of kea is called a flock or pandemonium.

A group of kea is called a flock or pandemonium.

Kea inhabit terrestrial and aerial/arboreal systems.

Kea inhabit terrestrial and aerial/arboreal systems.

Kea remain alert for air attacks when foraging and they band together to chase predators that threaten a member of their group.

Kea perceive visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical stimuli.

Kea perceive visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical stimuli.

Kea perceive visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical stimuli.

Kea perceive visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical stimuli.

Kea have decurved upper bills or culmens, but females have shorter, less curved culmens.

The kea is one of ten endemic parrot species in New Zealand and is native to the mountains of South Island, New Zealand.

Kea have clutches of two to four eggs.

The kea has a digitigrade locomotion style.

Kea incubate the eggs for three to four weeks.

Kea are opportunistic, generalist foragers.

It has been shown that kea in captivity can learn complicated tasks from observing others, though this ability has not been shown for kea in the wild.

A female kea is called a hen.

These birds have been called The Clown of New Zealand’s Southern Alps by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

As few as 10% of males may be allowed to breed in certain years.

This species is believed to be declining rapidly because of predation by introduced mammals and a variety of anthropogenic threats. Climate change may also pose a threat through possible future influences on its high altitude habitat.

This species is believed to be declining rapidly because of predation by introduced mammals and a variety of anthropogenic threats. Climate change may also pose a threat through possible future influences on its high altitude habitat.

This species is believed to be declining rapidly because of predation by introduced mammals and a variety of anthropogenic threats. Climate change may also pose a threat through possible future influences on its high altitude habitat.

The kea was described by ornithologist, John Gould, in 1856.

The underwing coverts are scarlet red-orange with yellow barring and notching that extends to the undersides of the flight feathers.

Only kaka remain to compete with kea and, where their ranges overlap, these two closely related species use many of the same food resources. The kaka is a lowland species, and is smaller and darker than the kea with crimson underparts.

Kea have been observed breeding at all times of the year, except late autumn. Their main reproductive period lasts from July to January.

Juvenile kea generally resemble adults, but have yellow eyerings, crowns, and cere, an orange-yellow lower beak, and grey-yellow legs.

Kea copulation is often initiated by the female, who approaches the male and invites play or adopts a submissive posture and solicits preening.

Kea, being opportunistic, generalist omnivorous foragers, are primary, secondary, and higher-level consumers.

Kea, being opportunistic, generalist omnivorous foragers, are primary, secondary, and higher-level consumers.

Kea, being opportunistic, generalist omnivorous foragers, are primary, secondary, and higher-level consumers.

Kea disperse from their natal ranges after eighteen to nineteen weeks and travel together in flocks for two to three years before settling down.

Male kea are sexually mature after four or five years, while females become sexually mature as early as three years of age.

Kea scavenge on trash heaps year round and relish the flesh and bone marrow from carcasses. These food sources become particularly important in winter, when plant foods are scarce.

It is estimated that around 60% of kea nests are normally attacked by predators, especially stoats, which may also kill adults; this can rise to as many as 99% of nests being attacked in a stoat plague.

Kea live in family groups and aggregations of 30 to 40 birds and often forage at prime feeding grounds, such as garbage dumps, ski fields, and cabins.

The kea has been fully protected by national law since 1986.

Density in the upland beech forest of Nelson Lakes National Park in 2011 was approximately one adult female Kea per 2,750 hectares, down from about one per 550 hectares in 1998. This represents an 80% decline in density over 13 years or just over one generation. There are also numerous anecdotal reports of decreases from other unmanaged areas. Although densities in other populations are much higher than at Nelson Lakes, it is likely that kea in areas not subject to predator control are continuing to decline. The total population decline over the last three generations, or 36 years, is likely to have been more than 50% but less than 80%.

Once kea attack sheep, the wounds can become infected with Clostridium bacteria. The bacteria can cause blood poisoning, which can be fatal to sheep.

The male’s upper beak is 12–14% longer than the female’s.

Kea have both maternal and paternal parental investment as both parents care for the young.

Kea have a breeding interval of 1 year.

The kea’s population is not severely fragmented.