Summary[
edit] Description: The Kea 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. Date: 12 August 2007, 10:55. Source:
A pair of Kea.. Author:
Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand. Camera location
43° 29′ 44.55″ S, 171° 32′ 24.04″ E View all coordinates using:
OpenStreetMap-43.495709; 171.540012.