Although often associated with the tropics and Australia, Aotearoa is home to a number of species of parrots and parakeets. Most of them endemic and endangered. Here are 9 fascinating facts about them.
Three parrots
New Zealand has 3 native parrot species – the kākāpō (nationally critical), the kākā (recovering) and the kea (nationally endangered). While the kea and kākā are from the same genus (Nestor), the kākāpō has no close relatives.
Six parakeets
New Zealand has 6 native species of parakeets, or kākāriki. Yellow-crowned parakeet (declining), orange-fronted parakeet (nationally critical), red-crowned parakeet (relict), Forbes' parakeet (nationally endangered), Reischek's parakeet (naturally uncommon) and the Antipodes Island parakeet (naturally uncommon). All from the same genus (Cyanoramphus), the small birds can be differentiated by the colour of their crown or head.
Three immigrants
New Zealand also has some Australian parakeet species that have become established or naturalised, although with restricted distribution. These include the sulphur-crested cockatoo (found on the west coast of the North Island), galah (Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf), and eastern rosella (throughout many parts of the North Island, and Dunedin ).
What's in a name?
Kākāriki means small parrot in Māori, kākā being the general term for parrots as well as the name of a specific species. Kākāriki is also the Māori word for green, reflecting the bright green colour of the birds.
One of a kind
There are a lot of things that make the kākāpō unique. Nocturnal (its name means night parrot) it is the heaviest and only flightless parrot in the world. Also noted for being long-lived, the booming mating call made by males and an ’owl-like’ face. Unfortunately, many of these unique features make them very vulnerable and despite intensive conservation efforts, there are less than 300 kākāpō alive today.