KEA
Nestor notabilis
DESCRIPTION
The Kea is a large parrot native to New Zealand, known for its distinctive olive-green plumage with bright orange underwings. These intelligent birds are highly social and are often seen interacting with each other and their environment. Keas are known for their playful behavior, often engaging in activities such as sliding down snow-covered slopes and investigating human belongings.
FUN FACTS
- Kea are known for their exceptional problem-solving skills and have been observed using tools to obtain food
- Their playful nature often leads them to engage in activities that seem to be for fun rather than survival, such as sliding down snowy slopes or playing with objects they find.|Kea are one of the few parrot species that are known to scavenge for food, often raiding campsites and tourist areas for scraps
- This behavior has made them famous among tourists, but it also poses risks as they can ingest harmful human food
QUICK INFO
Lifespan15-20 years in the wild, up to 30 in captivity
Average Weight800-1,200 g
Average Length48-50 cm
Diet TypeOmnivore
Social Structuregroup — Keas are highly social and often found in flocks.
Activity PatternDiurnal
Breeding SeasonSpring to early summer (September to January)
- Habitat
- Kea inhabit mountainous regions, particularly in the South Island of New Zealand. They are often found in alpine and subalpine environments, where they can access a variety of food sources.
- Biomes
- Alpine, Temperate Forest
- Native Range
- Endemic to New Zealand, primarily found in the South Island.
- Continent
- Oceania
- Countries
- New Zealand
- Diet
- Kea are omnivorous and have a varied diet that includes fruits, seeds, and insects, as well as carrion. They are known to scavenge and have been observed eating the remains of dead animals.
- Diet Type
- Omnivore
- Favorite Food
- fruits, seeds, insects, carrion
- Social Structure
- group — Keas are highly social and often found in flocks.
- Activity Pattern
- Diurnal
- Group Size
- 5-15
- Territorial
- 0
800-1,200 g
Weight
48-50 cm
Length
- Coloration
- Olive-green with bright orange underwings and a pale blue tail.
- Lifespan
- 15-20 years in the wild, up to 30 in captivity
- Offspring per Birth
- 1-4
- Sexual Maturity
- 2-3 years
- Breeding Season
- Spring to early summer (September to January)
EN
Endangered
IUCN Red List Status
- Population Status
- The population of Keas is currently considered to be declining due to various threats.
- Wild Population Estimate
- 5,000-7,000
- Population Trend
- Decreasing
- Endangered
- 1
- Threats
- Main threats to Keas include habitat loss, predation by introduced species such as stoats and cats, and human-related activities. Their playful nature can also lead them to scavenge from human waste, which can be harmful.
- Conservation Program
- Conservation efforts include habitat protection and predator control programs.
- Predators
- Stoats, cats, and rats are the primary predators of Kea, particularly affecting their nesting success.
- Defense Mechanisms
- Kea use their intelligence and social behavior to evade predators, often alerting each other to danger.
- Found in Zoos
- Uncommon