Kea have gained a reputation for attacking sheep and infecting them with a fatal, blood-poisoning bacteria and deforesting pastures, causing farmers to kill them.

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

Kea are highly intelligent birds and can learn complicated tasks from observing others.

Kea lay clutches of 2-4 eggs, mainly in terrestrial crevices within the forest, and incubate their eggs for 3-4 weeks.

Kea have non-linear dominance hierarchies and dominant individuals can force subordinates to cooperate in tasks for their own benefit.

Although Kea are protected within New Zealand by laws that prohibit their capture, mistreatment, and export, parrot-smuggling is a lucrative business and kea are captured for the black market pet trade.

Male kea take on the responsibility of feeding the female while she nests, as well as the young until they disperse from their natal range.

The kea population has declined 50-80% over the last 3 generations, or 36 years, largely due to persecution, and continues to decline rapidly.

As opportunistic, generalist omnivorous foragers, kea are primary, secondary, and higher-level consumers and only compete with the kaka for food resources.

After a female kea initiates copulation by inviting play or being submissive, the male will feed her a regurgitated meal before mounting.