The kea (pronounced KEE-ah; Māori: [kɛ.a]; scientific name: Nestor notabilis) is a large parrot in the Strigopidae family. It lives only in the forests and mountain areas of the South Island of New Zealand. The kea is about 48 cm (19 inches) long. Its body is mostly olive-green, with bright orange feathers on its wings. It has a large, narrow, curved beak that is grey-brown in color. The kea eats a variety of foods, including roots, leaves, berries, nectar, insects, and dead animals. In the past, people killed keas for money because farmers worried they would harm sheep. Today, keas are rare and are fully protected by the Wildlife Act of 1986.

Keas build their nests in holes in the ground or in spaces between tree roots. They are very smart and curious, which helps them survive in the tough mountain environment. Keas can solve problems, such as moving objects in a specific order to reach food. They also work together to complete tasks. Scientists have recorded keas making and using tools to help them eat.

Taxonomy and naming

The kea was described by ornithologist John Gould in 1856, using two birds that Walter Mantell showed him. Mantell found the birds in Murihiku. Earlier, some Māori elders had told Mantell about the bird, explaining that it used to visit the coast during winter but had not been seen for a long time. Mantell then looked into the matter and found the birds.

The kea’s scientific name includes the word notabilis, which means "noteworthy." The common name "kea" comes from the Māori language and likely imitates the bird’s call, which sounds like "keee aaa." In New Zealand English, the word "kea" is used for both one bird and many birds. A group of kea is called a "circus" or "conspiracy."

The genus Nestor includes four species: the New Zealand kākā (Nestor meridionalis), the kea (N. notabilis), the extinct Norfolk kākā (N. productus), and the extinct Chatham kākā (N. chathamensis). All four species are believed to have evolved from a "proto-kākā," which lived in New Zealand’s forests about five million years ago. The kea’s closest relative is the flightless kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus). Together, these birds belong to the parrot superfamily Strigopoidea, an ancient group that separated from other parrots long ago and later diversified into many species.

Description

The kea is a large parrot that is 46 to 50 cm (18 to 20 in) long, with some birds possibly reaching 55 cm (22 in). Males are about 5% longer than females. Adult kea weigh between 750 and 1,000 g (1.65 and 2.20 lb). On average, males weigh 956 g (2.108 lb), and females weigh 779 g (1.717 lb). The average weight of an adult kea is 922 g (2.033 lb). The kea has mostly olive-green feathers. The feathers on the sides of its face are dark olive-brown, the back and rump feathers are orange-red, and some outer wing feathers are dull blue. The undersides of its wings have orange feathers, and its tail is short, broad, and bluish-green with a black tip. Feather shafts extend at the tip of the tail, and the undersides of the inner tail feathers have yellow-orange stripes. Adult kea have dark-brown eyes, and their cere, eye-rings, and legs are grey. The kea’s beak is grey, with a long, narrow, curved upper beak. The male’s upper beak is 12–14% longer than the female’s. Juvenile kea look similar to adults but have yellow eye-rings and cere, an orange-yellow lower beak, and grey-yellow legs.

Distribution and habitat

The kea is one of nine parrot species that are only found in New Zealand.

Kea live in lowland river valleys and coastal forests on the west coast of the South Island. They also live in high mountain areas, such as Arthur's Pass and Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. These birds are often found in southern beech forests on mountain ridges.

Kea are not found in the North Island today, except for a few rarely seen birds. Old kea bones have been found in places like Mataikona in the eastern Wairarapa, Poukawa near Hastings, and Waitomo. These bones show that kea lived in lowland forests across much of the North Island until Polynesian settlers arrived about 750 years ago.

Old kea bones are also found in lowland and coastal areas of the South Island, not just in high mountain regions. Today, kea live mainly in mountain areas because mammalian predators, including humans, have forced them to move from lowland forests.

Behaviour

At least one observer has reported that the kea is polygynous, meaning one male is associated with multiple females. The same source also noted that there are more females than males in kea populations.

Kea are social birds that live in groups of up to 13 birds. Birds that are kept alone often struggle in captivity, but they can recognize themselves in mirrors.

In one study, nesting sites were found at a rate of one per 4.4 square kilometers (1.7 square miles). Kea typically breed in southern beech (Nothofagus) forests on steep mountain slopes. They nest at heights of 1,600 meters (5,200 feet) above sea level and higher, making them one of the few parrot species that regularly live above the tree line. Nest sites are usually located on the ground under large beech trees, in rock crevices, or in burrows between roots. These nests are connected to tunnels that lead into a larger chamber, which is lined with lichens, moss, ferns, and decaying wood. The breeding season begins in July and continues until January. Kea lay two to five white eggs, which hatch after about 21 days. The young stay with the parents for about 94 days.

Many young kea do not survive their first year, with less than 40% living past that age. The average lifespan of a wild kea is estimated to be about five years, based on observations in Arthur’s Pass and considering some birds may move to other areas. Around 10% of the local kea population is expected to be over 20 years old. The oldest known captive kea lived to be 50 years old in 2008.

Kea parrots have strong thinking skills. Studies show they can control their impulses and plan ahead. They can wait up to 160 seconds for a better reward. They also solve problems using trial and error and by watching others. These skills are similar to those of primates and other intelligent birds, like the African grey parrot.

Kea are omnivores, eating more than 40 plant species, beetle larvae, grasshoppers, land snails, other birds (such as shearwater chicks), and mammals (like sheep, rabbits, and mice). Scientists have seen kea break open shearwater nests to eat the chicks after hearing them. They also eat meat and bone marrow from dead animals and have taken food from human trash.

Kea have been observed using tools. A kea named Bruce, who has a broken upper beak, used pebbles between his tongue and lower beak to help with preening.

There is ongoing debate about whether kea attack sheep. In the 1860s, farmers noticed unusual wounds on sheep, and some believed kea were the cause. James MacDonald, a shepherd, saw a kea attack a sheep in 1868, and similar reports were common. Scientists like Alfred Wallace supported the idea that kea attacked sheep, citing it as an example of behavioral change. Thomas Potts noted that attacks often happened in winter, especially on sheep with thick wool, but rarely on recently sheared sheep.

Despite many reports of kea attacking sheep, some scientists were skeptical, especially later on. In 1962, J.R. Jackson suggested kea might only attack sick or injured sheep, not healthy ones. However, in 1992, video footage showed kea attacking healthy sheep at night. This confirmed that kea use their strong beaks and claws to tear through wool and eat fat from sheep. Though kea do not kill sheep directly, injuries or infections from attacks can lead to death.

Today, kea are protected, and farmers generally accept their behavior, even though it is unclear why some kea attack sheep and others do not. Some theories suggest the behavior may come from curiosity, hunger, or a shift from eating dead animals to live ones. Stories also suggest that only certain kea learn to attack sheep, and removing those birds can help control the issue.

There are also reports that kea attack rabbits, dogs, and horses. Some believe kea may have once fed on moa, a large extinct bird, in a similar way.

Relationship with humans

Kea are social birds with high thinking skills and the ability to solve difficult problems. Their curiosity and desire to explore make them both a problem for people living in the area and a favorite for tourists. In 2017, the kea was chosen as New Zealand Bird of the Year in a campaign to raise awareness about the country's endangered wildlife.

Known as "the clown of the mountains," kea investigate backpacks, boots, skis, snowboards, and even cars. They often cause damage or take small items with them. Before being protected, kea were sometimes kept as pets, but this was rare because they were hard to catch and caused damage in captivity.

People often see wild kea at South Island ski areas, where they are attracted by food scraps. Their curiosity leads them to peck at or take unguarded clothing or pry apart car parts, which can be both entertaining and annoying to people. They are often described as "cheeky." A kea once took a tourist's passport while visiting Fiordland National Park.

The Department of Conservation suggests that kea have more free time to explore and cause damage because they save time by eating a more calorie-rich diet with human help.

Kea's natural trust around humans has also led to incidents where they were intentionally harmed at popular tourist spots.

Māori people used to eat kea. The Waitaha tribe believed kea were kaitiaki, or guardians.

The kea was on the reverse side of the New Zealand $10 note from 1967 to 1992, when it was replaced by the blue duck (whio).

Kea are the main characters in novels by New Zealand author Philip Temple, "Beak of the Moon" (1981) and "Dark of the Moon" (1993). These books describe kea's first encounters with humans during Māori colonization and their life in modern New Zealand. Sentient kea also appear in the novel "The Last Shadow" by Orson Scott Card.

The youngest group in Scouts New Zealand, called Beavers in the UK and Joeys in Australia, is named after the kea.

In the video game "Dwarf Fortress," kea are one of many animals that steal the player's items.

In the past, the New Zealand government paid hunters for kea bills because the birds harmed livestock, mainly sheep. Hunters were supposed to kill kea only on farms and areas that paid the bounty, but some hunted them in protected areas. Over 150,000 kea were killed before the bounty ended in 1970.

A study in Nelson Lakes National Park found kea numbers dropped sharply between 1999 and 2009, mainly because possums killed kea eggs and chicks. Video cameras in South Westland showed possums attacking kea fledglings.

Lead poisoning, often from building materials, is a major cause of early kea deaths. Research at Aoraki/Mount Cook found all 38 tested kea had lead in their blood, with 26 at dangerous levels. Analysis of 15 dead kea showed nine had lead levels high enough to cause death. Studies in 2008 confirmed kea's curiosity increases their risk of lead poisoning, as more investigative behavior correlates with higher lead levels.

The pesticide 1080, used to control invasive pests like stoats and possums, has also caused kea deaths. In 2008, seven kea were found dead after a 1080 operation at Fox Glacier, and seven more died in 2011 in Ōkārito Forest. Traps are also a risk. In 2011, hidden cameras showed kea breaking into stoat traps in the Matukituki Valley, with over 75% of traps triggered.

In the 1970s, kea received partial protection after a census found only 5,000 birds. The government agreed to remove problem birds from land. In 1986, kea were fully protected under the Wildlife Act 1953. They are also listed in Appendix II of CITES, which regulates international trade of their parts.

Despite being classified as Nationally Endangered in New Zealand and endangered by the IUCN Red List, kea are still deliberately shot. For example, in the late 1990s, a Fox Glacier resident killed 33 kea in a car park, and in 2008, two kea were shot in Arthur's Pass and stapled to a sign.

Kea deaths from traffic have led the NZ Transport Agency to install signs to warn drivers to slow down. In Fiordland National Park, kea near the Homer Tunnel entrance are at risk from vehicles. People feeding the birds worsened the problem. In 2017, a gym for kea was built near the tunnel to lure them away from the road.

A citizen science project called the "Kea Database" started in 2017 to record kea sightings online. If banded, observations can track individual birds' habits.

Some suggest reintroducing kea to predator-free areas on the North Island. Dr. Mike Dickison, a former museum curator, said kea would thrive on Mount Ruapehu.

The Kea Conservation Trust, founded in 2006, helps protect kea.

In 1986, kea numbers were estimated at 1,000 to 5,000, but another estimate in 1992 suggested 15,000. Their wide, low-density distribution in hard-to-reach areas makes counting difficult. A 2017 estimate suggests 3,000 to 7,000 kea remain.