1. Kea (Nestor Notabilis)

Keas are famous for their mischievous nature, boldness and playfulness. Like climbing onto cars and ski lodges. They are also very intelligent providing endless entertainment to New Zealanders and Locals. But they are also known to wreck human property.

Description

Length 19in (48cm). Weight 35oz (1000g).
General plumage olive green, the feathers being margined with black. Only the rump is orange red. In flight displays a bright flash of orange red on underside of wings, bordered by the orange yellow underside of the flight feathers. The bill is dark gray, intends to be longer and more decurved in the male than in the female.

Call

Soft conversational notes and in flight a raucous Kee-aah.

Distribution

New Zealand

Habitat

Fairly common in mountains between 2000-6550ft (600-2000m), living in wooded valleys and nothofagus forests on the edge of sub-alpine scrublands. In spring and autumn they migrate up into the alpine scrub and grasslands to feed on seasonal fruits. In winter, heavy snowfall may force the Kea birds below the timberline.

Food

Kea birds eat almost anything from seeds, fruits, insects and scavenging carcasses.

Breeding

Nests are build in deep holes under rocks or roots of a tree, or in a hollow log on the ground. 3-4 eggs are laid and only incubated by the female for only 28 days. For the first month only the female feeds her chicks and then the male eventually takes over. The chick leave the nest after 10-13 weeks.