Kea
Nestor notabilis
A large, intelligent mountain parrot known for drab olive-green plumage that hides brilliant orange-red under the wings.
- Feather type
- Large contour, underwing, and flight feathers
- Colours
- Olive-green body with brilliant orange-red underwing patches
- Bird size
- Crow-sized, ~48 cm
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Overview
Overview
The Kea is a large parrot endemic to the mountains of New Zealand's South Island, notable both for its cold-tolerant alpine lifestyle and its exceptional intelligence and curiosity. Its plumage looks understated at rest but reveals a flash of bright color the moment it takes flight.
- One of the few parrot species adapted to alpine and subalpine environments
- Strong, hooked bill suited to probing and manipulating objects
- Long-lived and highly social, often seen in loose groups
Identifying the Feather
Feather Identification
Kea feathers are large, dense, and somewhat coarse-textured compared to tropical parrots, an adaptation to cold mountain conditions.
- Body feathers: dull olive-green overall, with dark scalloped edges giving a slightly scaly appearance
- Underwing feathers: brilliant orange-red, normally concealed but strikingly visible in flight or when a feather is examined from underneath
- Flight feathers: blue-green on the outer webs, darker toward the tips
- Rump feathers: a patch of duller blue tinged plumage above the tail
- Compared to similar species: no other New Zealand parrot shows this combination of drab olive body plumage paired with vivid orange-red underwing coverts, making even a single detached underwing feather diagnostic
Plumage & Molt
Plumage Notes
Adult Kea of both sexes look broadly similar, though males tend to be larger with a longer, more curved upper mandible. Juveniles show yellow skin around the eye and at the base of the bill, which fades as they mature.
- Sexes overlap greatly in plumage; size and bill shape are more reliable for distinguishing them
- Juvenile plumage is similar to adult but slightly duller
- Molt is gradual and not tied to a strong seasonal pattern given the stable alpine environment
Habitat & Range
Habitat & Range
Kea are restricted to the South Island of New Zealand, primarily in forested and alpine zones of mountainous terrain.
- Found from high alpine tussock and rock down into subalpine forest, especially in winter
- Non-migratory, though individuals may move to lower elevations during harsh weather
- Considered a resident specialist of one of the more extreme environments occupied by any parrot species
Behavior & Field Notes
Behavior & Field Notes
Kea are renowned for their intelligence, curiosity, and problem-solving behavior, often investigating unfamiliar objects, including items left by hikers and vehicles.
- Diet: an opportunistic feeder taking plant material, invertebrates, and other natural food sources found while foraging on the ground and among rocks
- Nesting: nests in burrows, rock crevices, or under tree roots, often on steep ground
- Voice: a loud, far-carrying "kee-aa" call, the source of its name, frequently given in flight
- Field notes: often seen playing or interacting socially in small groups, a trait linked to its unusually high cognitive abilities among birds
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Kea look plain at rest but colorful in flight?
Its body feathers are dull olive-green, but the underwing coverts are brilliant orange-red and only become visible when the wings are spread.
Is the Kea the only alpine parrot?
It is one of the very few parrot species adapted to live in alpine and subalpine mountain environments, unusual for the parrot family.
How do juvenile Kea differ from adults?
Juveniles show yellow skin around the eye and bill base, which fades as the bird matures into adult plumage.
Where is the Kea found?
It is restricted to the mountainous South Island of New Zealand, from subalpine forest up into alpine terrain.
Kea guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Kea.
Kea identified by the community
Real feathers identified with Feather Identifier.
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