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The kea is a large parrot measuring 46 to 50 cm (18 to 20 in) in total length, with some specimens possibly reaching 55 cm (22 in). [18] [19] [20] Adult kea weigh between 750 and 1,000 g (1.65 and 2.20 lb), with males averaging 956 g (2.108 lb) and females averaging 779 g (1.717 lb).
The New Zealand parrot family, Strigopidae, [1] consists of at least three genera of parrots – Nestor, Strigops, the fossil Nelepsittacus, [2] [3] and probably the fossil Heracles. [4] The genus Nestor consists of the kea , kākā , Norfolk kākā and Chatham kākā , [ 5 ] [ 6 ] while the genus Strigops contains the iconic kākāpō . [ 5 ]
North Island kākā. New Zealand is geographically isolated, and originally lacked any mammalian predators, hence parrots evolved to fill habitats from the ground dwelling kākāpō to the alpine dwelling kea as well as a variety of forest species.
The Māori language name kākā means "parrot", possibly related to kā, 'to screech'. [8] The genus Nestor contains four species, two of which are extinct: the New Zealand kākā (Nestor meridionalis), the kea (N. notabilis), the extinct Norfolk kākā (N. productus), and the extinct Chatham kākā (N. chathamensis). All four are thought to ...
The kea is the only alpine parrot. Several parrots inhabit the cool, temperate regions of South America and New Zealand. Three species—the thick-billed parrot, the green parakeet, and the now-extinct Carolina parakeet—have lived as far north as the southern United States.
The Kea (Nestor notabilis) is a species of parrot (family Nestoridae) found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand.The Kea is one of the few alpine parrots in the world, and includes carrion in an omnivorous diet consisting mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar and insects.
Kākāpō are the heaviest living species of parrot and on average weigh about 400 g (14 oz) more than the largest flying parrot, the hyacinth macaw. [ 28 ] The kākāpō cannot fly, having relatively short wings for its size and lacking the keel on the sternum (breastbone), where the flight muscles of other birds attach. [ 5 ]
Of the nine species in the New Zealand parrot superfamily Strigopoidea, the Norfolk kākā [1] [2] and Chatham kākā [3] became extinct in recent history. The last known individual of the Norfolk Kākā died in its cage in London sometime after 1851, [4] and only between seven [5] and 20 [6] skins survive.