The kea is a large species of parrot of the superfamily Strigopoidea found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand.
Fast Facts about Kea
1. They snack on everything from tree roots, berries, buds, seeds, insects and worms and will also scavenge on dead animals, birds’ eggs and even baby birds.
2. Kea are about 46cm long (about the size of a cat sitting up). They have a wingspan of about 1 metre when they are in flight.
3. Kea can solve logical puzzles, such as pushing and pulling things in a certain order to get to food, and will work together to achieve a certain objective. They have been filmed preparing and using tools
4. Kea mate for life, and both parents will work to bring up their chicks.
5. Kea have a high-pitched ‘kee-aa’ call, often heard in flight. They also have a variety of quieter whistling calls.
6. The kea nests in burrows or crevices among the roots of trees.
7. A Kea Parrots plumage is olive green in colour, their nape and crown is yellow/green and their abdomen and chest is green with a brown tinge. Their lower back is orange to red in colour.
8. Female Kea Parrots reach sexual maturity when they are around 3 years old and males around 4 – 5 years old. Male Keas may mate with up to four females during breeding season.
Also Read: 10 Amazing Bird Facts (The Jos Plateau Indigobird)
9. Female keas usually lay a clutch of 3 – 4 eggs between July and January in nests built in rocky areas. Nests are lined with moss and lichen. The eggs are incubated for 29 days.
10. The oldest known captive kea was 50 years old
