Kakapo Bird Facts (Strigops habroptilus)

Kakapo

Strigops habroptilus

Critically Endangered

Known as the 'owl parrot', the Kakapo is a unique bird native to New Zealand, notable for being the world's heaviest parrot. With its moss-green plumage and nocturnal habits, the Kakapo is a true oddity in the bird world. Despite being flightless, this bird has carved out a niche for itself in the forests and grasslands of its homeland. However, it is critically endangered with a population of just over 100, relying heavily on conservation efforts for survival.

Appearance and Identification

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Color

Green

Primary Color (juvenile)

Green

Secondary Colors

Yellow, Brown

Secondary Colors (female)

Secondary Colors (juvenile)

Yellow, Brown

Secondary Colors (seasonal)

Wing Color

Green

Wing Color (juvenile)

Green

Beak Type

Short

Beak Color

Grey

Beak Color (juvenile)

Grey

Leg Color

Grey

Leg Color (juvenile)

Grey

Distinctive Markings

Moss-green plumage, barred with yellow and black

Distinctive Markings (juvenile)

Similar to adults but slightly duller

Tail Description

Short and rounded

Tail Description (juvenile)

Short and rounded

Size Metrics

58cm to 64cm

Length

82cm

Wingspan

950g to 4kg

Weight

Photos

Click on an image below to see the full-size version

Kakapo camouflaged in vegetation

The Kakapo is a flightless nocturnal bird

Kakapo close-up

Vocalization and Sounds

Primary Calls

Booming, metallic chinging sounds

Call Description

Low frequency booming, high frequency chinging, and a variety of other vocalizations

Alarm Calls

Sharp, short squawks

Behavior and Social Structure

Daily Activities

Nocturnal, spends the day resting in dens or hollow trees

Social Habits

Solitary but can be social during the breeding season

Territorial Behavior

Males establish territories and defend them from other males

Migratory Patterns

Non-migratory

Interaction with Other Species

Rarely interacts with other bird species

Diet

Primary Diet

Leaves, Roots, Seeds

Feeding Habits

Forages on the ground and in trees

Feeding Times

Night

Prey Capture Method

Browsing and digging

Diet Variations

Diet varies depending on season and food availability

Special Dietary Needs (if any)

High calcium requirement

Nesting

Nesting Location

Underground burrows or in hollow trees

Nest Construction

Simple scrape in the ground lined with vegetation

Breeding Season

Summer

Number of clutches (per breeding season)

One

Egg Appearance

White

Egg Size

Approximately 5cm x 4cm

Clutch Characteristics

1-2 eggs

Incubation Period

Around 30 days

Fledgling Period

Approximately 10-12 weeks

Parental Care

Female provides all care

Distribution and Habitat

Geographic Range

New Zealand

Habitat Description

Forests and grasslands

Elevation Range

Sea level to mountainous regions

Migration Patterns

Non-migratory

Biome

Temperate Rainforest

Climate zones

Temperate

Distribution Map

Please note, this range and distribution map is a high-level overview, and doesn't break down into specific regions and areas of the countries.

Resident or Present

New Zealand

Lifespan and Life Cycle

Lifespan range (years)

Average Lifespan

60 year(s)

Maturity Age

9-11 year(s)

Breeding Age

5-9 year(s)

Reproductive Behavior

Polygynous, males compete for females

Age-Related Changes

Males develop more pronounced facial disc with age

Conservation Status

Current Status

Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Major Threats

Predation by introduced species, habitat loss

Conservation Efforts

Intensive conservation management, including translocation and predator control

Population Trend

Population slowly increasing due to intensive conservation efforts

Classification

Other names:

Owl Parrot, Night Parrot

Family:

Strigopidae

Population size:

116

Population trend:

Increasing

Conservation status:

Critically Endangered

IUCN Red List

Kakapo

Appearance and Identification

Primary Color

Primary Color (juvenile)

Secondary Colors

Secondary Colors (female)

Secondary Colors (juvenile)

Secondary Colors (seasonal)

Wing Color

Wing Color (juvenile)

Beak Type

Beak Color

Beak Color (juvenile)

Leg Color

Leg Color (juvenile)

Distinctive Markings

Distinctive Markings (juvenile)

Tail Description

Tail Description (juvenile)

Size Metrics

Photos

Vocalization and Sounds

Primary Calls

Call Description

Alarm Calls

Behavior and Social Structure

Daily Activities

Social Habits

Territorial Behavior

Migratory Patterns

Interaction with Other Species

Diet

Primary Diet

Feeding Habits

Feeding Times

Prey Capture Method

Diet Variations

Special Dietary Needs (if any)

Nesting

Nesting Location

Nest Construction

Breeding Season

Number of clutches (per breeding season)

Egg Appearance

Egg Size

Clutch Characteristics

Incubation Period

Fledgling Period

Parental Care

Distribution and Habitat

Geographic Range

Habitat Description

Elevation Range

Migration Patterns

Biome

Climate zones

Distribution Map

Lifespan and Life Cycle

Lifespan range (years)

Average Lifespan

Maturity Age

Breeding Age

Reproductive Behavior

Age-Related Changes

Conservation Status

Current Status

Major Threats

Conservation Efforts

Population Trend

Classification

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