New Zealand parrot

The New Zealand parrot family, Strigopidae, includes several interesting birds found only in New Zealand. These parrots belong to different groups, or genera, such as Nestor and Strigops. The Nestor group has birds like the kea and kākā, while the Strigops group is home to the special kākāpō.

Sadly, some of these parrots are no longer with us. The Norfolk kākā and Chatham kākā have gone extinct. Even the birds that are still alive, like the kea and kākāpō, face big challenges. They are threatened by animals that humans brought to the islands, such as pigs, cats, and rats. These animals eat the birds’ eggs, making it hard for them to have baby birds.

These parrots have a very long history. Their family split away from other parrots around 82 million years ago, long before humans were around. Their unique story shows how special and important these birds are to the world.

Systematics

The family of New Zealand parrots, called Strigopoidea, was hard to classify. It is one of three main groups in the parrot order, along with cockatoos and true parrots. Some scientists group three types—Nestor, Nelepsittacus, and Strigops—into the family Strigopidae. Others put Nestor and Nelepsittacus in their own family, Nestoridae, leaving only Strigops in Strigopidae. Studies show this group has a special place at the start of the parrot family tree.

Phylogeography

A theory explains how these parrots evolved. When New Zealand split from a large old land called Gondwana about 82 million years ago, some parrot ancestors were separated. This is called allopatric speciation.

Over time, two groups of parrots, called Nestor and Strigops, changed to suit different places. This led to reproductive isolation, a type of ecological speciation. About five million years ago, the Southern Alps formed, changing the land and causing more changes in the Nestor group. Around three million years ago, some parrots learned to live at high altitudes, becoming the kea. Others stayed at lower altitudes, becoming the kākā species. The Norfolk kākā and Chatham kākā likely came from a few parrots that moved to these islands and changed there.

New Zealand did not have four-legged mammals until recently. This allowed some birds to nest on the ground and others to stop flying without fear of being eaten.

The parakeet species called kākāriki belong to the true parrot family and are closely related to birds from New Caledonia. They may have come to New Zealand between 450,000 and 625,000 years ago from Australia, but this is not certain.

Species

We know very little about the Chatham kākā. The group Nelepsittacus has three known species and one that has not been fully described. These were found in very old rock layers in Otago. Another group, Heracles, has a very large species also found in the same old rock layers in Otago.

Common names

All common names for species in this family are the same as the traditional Māori names. The Māori word kākā comes from an ancient word meaning parrot. Kākāpō is a name that means "kākā of the night" or night parrot, because this bird is active at night. The word kea in Māori might imitate the bird's call.

Ecology

New Zealand is far from other lands, so few mammals could get there. Birds like harriers, falcons, and owls were the main predators. When Polynesians arrived, they brought animals like rats, which changed the natural balance.

There are three living species in this parrot family, each with its own way of living. The kākāpō cannot fly and is active at night to hide from daytime birds of prey. It is the only flightless bird in the world that uses a special breeding system called a lek. The kea lives in cold, high areas and often breeds in holes in the ground instead of trees.

Relationship with humans

The parrots of New Zealand have been important to the Māori people. They were hunted for food, kept as pets, and their feathers were used to make special clothing and decorations.

Today, some of these parrots are in danger. The Norfolk kākā and Chatham kākā are no longer alive. The kākāpō is in very serious danger. The mainland kākā and the kea are also considered endangered. These birds face many challenges, including loss of their homes and animals like rats, cats, and stoats that were brought to the islands. Conservation programs are working hard to help the kākāpō and kākā.