# Kea (*Nestor notabilis*) The Kea is a fun-loving parrot from New Zealand! They are playful and curious, often seen sliding down snowy hills just for fun. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Mountainous regions of New Zealand - **Also known as:** Mountain Parrot, Nestor ![Kea](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424664/objects/4639.jpg) ## Appearance The Kea is an olive-green parrot with bright orange underwings and a long, curved grey beak. Its dark eyes and strong legs give it a confident, agile appearance, distinct from other parrots. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Psittaciformes - **Family:** Psittacidae - **Genus:** Nestor ## Interesting facts - Kea are highly curious and known to investigate cars, backpacks, and anything new! - Kea are the only alpine parrot in the world, living in snowy mountains! - Their name, "Kea," comes from their loud, drawn-out call: "keee-aaa." - These clever birds have been observed playing, rolling down snowy slopes just for fun! ## Special abilities - **Master Problem-Solver:** Kea can solve complex puzzles because of their high intelligence that helps them find food and shelter. - **Alpine Aviator:** Kea has powerful wings and unique feather structure that helps them fly gracefully through mountain winds. - **Tool Innovator:** Kea can manipulate objects with their strong beak and agile feet that helps them access hidden resources. - **Social Learner:** Kea can quickly learn new behaviors by observing others, helping them adapt to changing environments. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 44-50 cm - **Wingspan:** 80-90 cm - **Weight:** 0.8-1 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 21-29 days - **Migration Distance:** 0 km ## Diet & Feeding Kea are clever omnivores, eating almost anything they can find, from plants to insects and even carrion. - **Age differences:** Young kea rely more on easy-to-find plant matter before developing diverse foraging skills. - **Primary Foods:** berries, seeds, nectar, insect larvae, carrion, roots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Silver Beech (*Nothofagus menziesii*) — Forages on seeds and nectar in the forest. - **Eats:** Domestic Sheep (*Ovis aries*) — Scavenges carrion or fat from backs of live sheep. - **Eaten by:** [Stoat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stoat) (*Mustela erminea*) — Predates on Kea eggs and chicks in nests. - **Eats:** Golden Speargrass (*Aciphylla aurea*) — Digs up and consumes its nutritious roots. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Kea? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Kea? 44-50 cm ### What is Kea's wingspan? 80-90 cm ### How much does Kea weigh? 0.8-1 kg ### How long does Kea live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Kea move? 55 km/h ### What does Kea eat? Kea are clever omnivores, eating almost anything they can find, from plants to insects and even carrion. ### Where is Kea usually found? Mountainous regions of New Zealand ## Where to spot - [Zoo am Meer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-am-meer) — Bremen, DE · Zoo - [Bergzoo Halle (Zoologischer Garten Halle)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bergzoo-halle) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Naturschutz-Tierpark Görlitz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturschutz-tierpark-g-rlitz) — Saxony, DE · Zoo - [Vogelpark Marlow](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vogelpark-marlow) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark und Fossilium Bochum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-und-fossilium-bochum) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Kea](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/kea) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Kea: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kea)