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Kea
Kea are a cheeky endemic bird found only in the South Island of New Zealand. The kea is a parrot and it is well known because of its curious nature and contact with people.
There are six native parrot species endemic to mainland New Zealand including:
- kea
- kākā
- kākāpō
- and three species of kākāriki:
- yellow-crowned parakeet
- red-crowned parakeet
- orange-fronted parakeet
The kea differs from our other native parrots because it lives in the mountains. The kea is the only truly alpine parrot in the world.
Naming kea
Māori named the kea, describing the sound of its call (‘kee-aa!’). Kea were considered guardians of the mountains for the Waitaha Māori during their search for Pounamu (greenstone).
Nestor notabilis. The kea’s species name, Nestor, is from Greek mythology. Nestor was said to be a wise old counsellor to the Greeks at Troy. Notabilis is Latin and means, ‘that worthy of note’.
A flock of kea is known either as a ‘circus of kea’ or a ‘curiosity of kea’.
Identification
The kea is a large, olive-green parrot with scarlet underwings and a slender grey-black bill. The kea is a strong flier with a wing span of over 1 metre. A male kea can weigh over 1 kilogram. Females are smaller than males and their bill is shorter.
Young kea have yellow around their eyes, nostrils and mandible. This yellow fades to grey by the time the bird reaches 3-4 years of age.
Kea are easy to identify and are unlikely to be mistaken for kākā. Kākā are smaller, olive-brown and live in forests. Kākā have more varied calls, while the kākāpō is found mainly on offshore islands, is very rare, larger, flightless and nocturnal.
Kea call
The call of the kea is a long, loud, high-pitched cry. Listen to a kea call.
Lifespan of the Kea
The oldest known kea in captivity reached the grand old age of 50 years. Kea in the wild have been known to reach at least 30 years.
Complete the Kea quiz >
You could find out more about parrots, how they have evolved over time and what their characteristics are.