Kea

The Kea is an inquisitive parrot that lives in high-altitude forests and alpine basins on the South Island of New Zealand. It is olive-green in colour with a bright spot of orange or red under its wings. As the world’s only alpine parrot, it has a varied and highly adaptable diet, which reflects the often changing conditions and seasons of its habitat.

It is omnivorous but the leaves, buds, and nuts of southern beeches are its primary food source. The Kea can make its home in a multitude of locations from burrows nestled within tree roots to rocky crevasses and the undersides of logs. It is a highly intelligent species and lives in groups of up to 40 individuals, communicating with a wide variety of vocalisations, postures and facial expressions.

The Kea is polygynous and males fight for dominance with only 10% of the male population allowed to breed per year. The female lays 2 – 4 eggs that are incubated for 3 – 4 weeks. The male feeds the female by regurgitating food while she is on her nest.

The Kea’s curiosity has earned it the nickname “the clown of the mountains” because it can often be found rooting through bags and cars of nearby tourists. This dance of comfortability with humans has been risky behavior for the Kea.