Kakapo, Flightless Parrots

Life Cycle, Habitat, Diet, and History of the Largest Parrot Species

Feb 18, 2007

The Kakapo, native to New Zealand, is a large flightless parrot that was almost wiped out by people and introduced species. Slowly, Kakapo are recovering.

What is a kakapo?

A Kakapo is a moss-green parrot with a yellow face, native to New Zealand. Flightless, it uses its wings for balance and to slow its descent when it jumps from trees. Adult kakapo weigh about 4 kg (almost 9 lb). Kakapo hop or waddle on the ground and can move quite quickly, covering several kilometers (well over a mile) in a day. They are also adept at climbing trees in spite of the fact that they cannot fly.

You won’t see a kakapo, however, if you go walking in a New Zealand forest—for several reasons. First, kakapo are nocturnal parrots. They spend their days alone, sleeping in trees or on the ground, and only move around at night. Second, and more importantly, there are almost none of them left: in 2002, there were only 86 kakapo known, all living on remote islands in the kakapo recovery program.

Critically Endangered

Kakapo were decimated after the arrival of humans who hunted them for food and feathers, and who introduced predators such as Polynesian rats, cats, and stoats to New Zealand. Kakapo could not fly to escape these animals, and the birds tend to freeze rather than run when frightened, making them easy prey. In 1960, New Zealanders believed that their unique parrot was extinct.

By 1970, a few remaining kakapo had been discovered and they were moved to islands where there were no predators to threaten them: Little Barrier, Maud Island, and Whenua Hou. Starting from a small population of birds with just 21 adult females, a recovery project began.

Kakapo breeding

The breeding habits of kakapo include a few curious and limiting facts of natural history. Though the birds are thought to live 60 years or more, females don’t breed until they are about 10 years old. Males, who mate at age five, don’t help with nesting, so the female must leave the nest unattended while she feeds at night. Plant eaters, kakapo breed in years when the Rimu tree fruits abundantly, which only happens every two to five years, and when females have access to abundant food supplies, they tend to produce a predominance of male chicks.

When Kakapo males are ready to breed, they gather at leks where they call to the females producing sonic booms—calls that have been likened to a heartthrob. Their booms can be heard for long distances, and the females then travel through the forest to find the males. Males stay put and wait for females to visit; each male waits in a bowl-like depression in the earth with many tracks leading out.

Kakapo recovery

It seems the poor Kakapo almost sets itself up to fail, but on protected islands and with the vigilance of the recovery program team, the population is increasing slowly. Recovery workers monitor and guard nests, and move eggs and birds when circumstances warrant. When chicks are not doing well they are removed for special care. Even if all goes well, it could be 2020 or later before the population doubles.

Perrins, Christopher ed. Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Firefly Books, 2003.

The copyright of the article Kakapo, Flightless Parrots in Birds is owned by Rosemary Drisdelle. Permission to republish Kakapo, Flightless Parrots in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.