Do you think you know the kea? Test your knowledge of kea FaunaFacts with this trivia quiz!
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Learn More About the Kea | Play on Quizizz

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What habitats do kea inhabit?
Forest
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.
Shrubland
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.
Grassland
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.
Artificial Terrestrial
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.

©️ Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
To what continent is the kea endemic?
Oceania
The kea is endemic to the Oceania continent.
South America
Africa
Asia

©️ Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
Where do kea nest?
Rocks
Kea nest in holes, under logs, in rocky crevasses, burrows under rocks, and among tree roots, mainly within forest.
Tree Roots
Kea nest in holes, under logs, in rocky crevasses, burrows under rocks, and among tree roots, mainly within forest.
Beaches
Treetops

©️ Jared Kelly, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Kea have what type of hierarchies?
Non-Linear
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.
Linear

©️ Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
What is the kea’s diet?
Omnivorous
Kea are opportunistic, omnivorous parrots.
Herbivorous
Carnivorous
Unknown

©️ Geof Wilson, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
What is a male kea called?
Cock
A male kea is called a cock.
Bull
Jock
Buck

©️ Rafal Wadowski, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-ND 2.0)
What is the kea’s rhythm?
Diurnal
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.
Nocturnal
Cathemeral
Crepuscular
Plants
The leaves, buds, and nuts of southern beeches (Nothofagus) are especially important in the kea diet.
Mammals
Insects
Carrion

©️ Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
Kea are important for New Zealand’s tourism industry.
True
Kea are important for New Zealand’s tourism industry and attract crowds when they convene on automobiles.
False

©️ Aftab Uzzaman, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC 2.0)
What is the kea’s mating system?
Polygynous
Kea have a polygynous mating system. Males fight for dominance, and the hierarchy is strict.
Polygynandrous
Polyandrous
Monogamous

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What is the kea’s evaluation on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species?
Endangered
Kea are currently classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Critically Endangered
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Loud Flight Call
The common name kea is from Māori, an onomatopoeic representation of their loud, in-flight call, keee-aa.
Colorful Plumage
Opportunistic Diet
Social Lifestyle

©️ Phillip Capper, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY 2.0)
What is the kea’s scientific name?
Nestor notabilis
The kea’s scientific name is Nestor notabilis.
Strigops habroptilus
Nestor meridionalis
Nestor productus

©️ Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
Kea thrive in urban environments.
True
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.
False

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What is the kea’s population?
4,000
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.
400
40,000
40
Feeding
The male feeds the female a regurgitated meal and mounts her.
Singing
Dancing
Building a Nest
3 Months
Kea hatchlings are altricial and fledge after 13 weeks.
6 Months
2 Weeks
1 Year

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Kea are less active during what kind of weather?
Hot
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.
Cold

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What is the kea’s movement pattern?
Not a Migrant
Kea are evaluated as “Not a Migrant” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Altitudinal Migrant
Full Migrant
Nomadic
Stoats
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.
Domestic Cats
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.
Possums
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.
Kakas
Social
Kea are highly intelligent, social birds.
Social Males, Solitary Females
Solitary Males, Social Females
Solitary
Pets
Parrot-smuggling is a lucrative business, and kea are often captured and exported for the black market pet trade.
Medicine
Sport Hunting
Food
15-20 Years
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.
10-15 Years
20-25 Years
5-10 Years
Decreasing
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.
Increasing
Stable
Unknown

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Kea are killed by farmers for preying on what livestock?
Sheep
Kea have gained a reputation for attacking sheep (Ovis aries), although they usually only prey on wounded or diseased sheep.
Cattle
Goat
Pig

©️ Aidan Wojtas, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The kea displays sexual dimorphism.
True, males are larger.
The male is about 5% longer than the female and and females weigh about 20 percent less than males.
True, females are larger.
False.

©️ James Ball, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY 2.5)
What is a group of kea called?
Flock
A group of kea is called a flock or pandemonium.
Pandemonium
A group of kea is called a flock or pandemonium.
Troop
Congress
Terrestrial
Kea inhabit terrestrial and aerial/arboreal systems.
Aerial/Arboreal
Kea inhabit terrestrial and aerial/arboreal systems.
Fossorial
Aquatic
True
Kea remain alert for air attacks when foraging and they band together to chase predators that threaten a member of their group.
False
Visual
Kea perceive visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical stimuli.
Auditory
Kea perceive visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical stimuli.
Tactile
Kea perceive visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical stimuli.
Chemical
Kea perceive visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical stimuli.

©️ James Ball, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY 2.5)
The curvature of the kea’s beak differs by sex.
True, males’ are more curved.
Kea have decurved upper bills or culmens, but females have shorter, less curved culmens.
True, females’ are more curved.
False.

©️ Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
What region does the kea inhabit?
New Zealand
The kea is one of ten endemic parrot species in New Zealand and is native to the mountains of South Island, New Zealand.
Australia
Tasmania
Papua New Guinea

©️ Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
How many eggs make up a kea clutch?
2-4
Kea have clutches of two to four eggs.
1
5-7
8-10

©️ Rafal Wadowski, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-ND 2.0)
Which sex of kea initiates copulation?
Digitigrade
The kea has a digitigrade locomotion style.
Plantigrade
Unguligrade
Other

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How long is kea incubation?
3-4 Weeks
Kea incubate the eggs for three to four weeks.
1-2 Weeks
5-6 Weeks
7-8 Weeks

©️ Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
What is the kea’s diet?
Generalist
Kea are opportunistic, generalist foragers.
Specialist

©️ Geof Wilson, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Which kea can learn complicated tasks from observing others?
Captive
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.
Wild
Both, Captive & Wild
None

©️ Rafal Wadowski, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-ND 2.0)
What is a female kea called?
Hen
A female kea is called a hen.
Jenny
Doe
Sow

©️ Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
What has the New Zealand Department of Conservation nicknamed the kea?
The Clown
These birds have been called The Clown of New Zealand’s Southern Alps by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
The Vandal
The Fool
The Bully

©️ Aftab Uzzaman, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC 2.0)
What percentage of kea males are allowed to breed each year?
10%
As few as 10% of males may be allowed to breed in certain years.
30%
50%
70%

©️ Aftab Uzzaman, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-NC 2.0)
What threatens the kea?
Invasive Species
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.
Biological Resource Use
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.
Climate Change
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.
Energy Production
1856
The kea was described by ornithologist, John Gould, in 1856.
1746
2006
1966

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What color is a kea’s underwings?
Red
The underwing coverts are scarlet red-orange with yellow barring and notching that extends to the undersides of the flight feathers.
Blue
Green
Black

©️ Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain, (CC0 1.0)
What is the kea’s only competitor?
New Zealand Kaka
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.
New Zealand Falcon
Kakapo
South Island Takahe

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Which season is not part of the kea’s breeding season?
Fall
Kea have been observed breeding at all times of the year, except late autumn. Their main reproductive period lasts from July to January.
Winter
Spring
Summer

©️ Rafal Wadowski, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-ND 2.0)
What is the color of a juvenile kea’s lower beak?
Yellow
Juvenile kea generally resemble adults, but have yellow eyerings, crowns, and cere, an orange-yellow lower beak, and grey-yellow legs.
Green
Red
Black
Female
Kea copulation is often initiated by the female, who approaches the male and invites play or adopts a submissive posture and solicits preening.
Male
Primary Consumer
Kea, being opportunistic, generalist omnivorous foragers, are primary, secondary, and higher-level consumers.
Secondary Consumer
Kea, being opportunistic, generalist omnivorous foragers, are primary, secondary, and higher-level consumers.
Tertiary Consumer
Kea, being opportunistic, generalist omnivorous foragers, are primary, secondary, and higher-level consumers.
Apex Predator
4-5 Months
Kea disperse from their natal ranges after eighteen to nineteen weeks and travel together in flocks for two to three years before settling down.
6-9 Months
2-3 Years
1-2 Years

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Kea sexual maturation differs by sex.
True, females mature sooner.
Male kea are sexually mature after four or five years, while females become sexually mature as early as three years of age.
True, males mature sooner.
False.
Winter
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.
Summer
Spring
Fall
What percentage of kea nests are normally attacked by predators?
60%
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.
20%
40%
80%
30-40
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.
3-4
3,000-4,000
300-400
1986
The kea has been fully protected by national law since 1986.
2006
1906
1886
65%
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%.
85%
45%
25%

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Kea infect livestock with what type of fatal bacteria?
Blood-Poisoning
Once kea attack sheep, the wounds can become infected with Clostridium bacteria. The bacteria can cause blood poisoning, which can be fatal to sheep.
Flesh-Eating
Brain-Eating
Liver-Poisoning

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Kea beak size differs by sex.
True, males’ are longer.
The male’s upper beak is 12–14% longer than the female’s.
True, females’ are longer.
False.
Both, Paternal & Maternal
Kea have both maternal and paternal parental investment as both parents care for the young.
Maternal
Paternal
None
1 Year
Kea have a breeding interval of 1 year.
2 Years
6 Months
3 Months
False
The kea’s population is not severely fragmented.
True
How much did you know about the kea? Share your results in the comments!