Wildlife
Keas are incredibly versatile parrots with considerable intelligence, often compared favourably with primates - which is how they received their nickname of 'mountain monkeys'.
Scientific name: Nestor notabilis
Rank: Species
In order to see this content you need to have an up-to-date version of Flash installed and Javascript turned on.
Carnivorous parrots
Keas dig shearwater chicks out of their burrows.
Keas dig shearwater chicks out of their burrows.
Curious keas
Keas have had to adapt to the influence of the modern world.
The wildlife of New Zealand that was once so isolated has had to adapt to the influence of the modern world. Keas have learned some new scavenging tricks and make detailed investigations of the world around them.
Mountain parrots
Alpine keas are unique to New Zealand and are reknowned for their destructive playfulness.
The mountains of New Zealand are extemely inhospitable, yet mountain parrots, or keas, live here in the snow. They have extended childhoods to learn everything they need to and live for up to 20 years, so there's plenty of time to play.
The following habitats are found across the Kea distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Vulnerable
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Kea (/ˈkiː.ə/; Māori: [kɛ.a]; Nestor notabilis) is a large species of parrot (superfamily Strigopoidea) found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. About 48 cm (19 in) long, it is mostly olive-green with a brilliant orange under its wings and has a large, narrow, curved, grey-brown upper beak. The Kea is the world's only alpine parrot. Its omnivorous diet includes carrion, but consists mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects. Now uncommon, the Kea was once killed for bounty due to concerns by the sheep-farming community that it attacked livestock, especially sheep. It received full protection only in 1986.
The Kea nests in burrows or crevices among the roots of trees. Kea are known for their intelligence and curiosity, both vital to their survival in a harsh mountain environment. 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.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia. If you find the content in the 'About' section factually incorrect, defamatory or highly offensive you can edit this article at Wikipedia. For more information on our use of Wikipedia please read our FAQ.
BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
Mountain grassland
Moorland
Mountains
Broadleaf forest
Urban
Helpless young
Learning
Tree dweller
Hierarchical
Adapted to flying
Burrower
Acoustic communication
Altitude tolerant
Moulting
Egg layer
Parental investment
Polygynous
Social
Visual communication