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The Kakapo parrot (owl parrot) is an amazing bird native to the islands of New Zealand. It is considered one of the most ancient species that have survived to this day.
The first to describe the bird’s face was the English biologist D.R. Gray in 1845. The name Strigops was given to them from the words strix, owl,” ops, face,” habros, soft,” and ptilon, feather.”. The scientist’s assumption that the bird is a relative of the Australian ground and night parrots has been completely refuted these days because the bird is recognized as the only species in the genus. In a word, Kakapo birds were called Maori (ancient aborigines of New Zealand).
Credit: Wikipedia
External characteristics of Kakapo and distinctive features
| Name and classification | Kakapo Parrot (Owl, night, flightless parrot) Strigops habroptilus Strigops Strigopidae Strigopoidea Psittaciformes Aves |
| Length | Up to 0.6 m. |
| Adult weight | Males: about 4 kg; females: up to 3 kg. |
| Color | The predominant color is yellow-green with black-brown splashes (thanks to the camouflage colors, it is easy to hide in forest areas). |
| Feathers | Light, soft. |
| Beak | Large, gray (lightens towards the edge), sharp. |
| Eyes | Black. |
| Paws | Short legs with huge feet. |
| Tail | Short, dragging along the ground. |
| Wings | They have the smallest size among all parrots. They are used exclusively to maintain balance when jumping or falling from a height. Wing feathers are short and rounded. |
| Features of young animals | The chicks are distinguished by less bright plumage, a large number of black wing feathers, and a yellow beak. |
| differences | Dimorphism (differences) in body size (females are significantly smaller). |
| Features of the skeleton structure | Unique skeleton, the only one of its type among the family (due to loss of flight abilities): • A small sternum with a vestigial keel and a shortened outer part of the spine. • The furcula are formed by pairs of clavicles that are in contact with the coracoid. • Wide pelvis. • The proximal bones of the limbs are long, and the distal ones are short. • The pectoral and supramarginal muscles are shortened. • There is a vast muscle called cucularis capitis clavicularis. |
| Features of the view | • lost the ability to fly.• There is a characteristic “locator” facial disc. • Around the beak there are feathers called \”vibrissae,\” which help to move in the dark. • Unusual voice: hoarse mixed with squeals or grunts. • A specific smell, similar to the aroma of flowers and honey (to recognize each other). |
Credit: Pinterest
Habitat
They are found in the southwest of New Zealand in the humid highlands, as well as in areas where there is a lot of turf or shrubs, and occasionally in coastal areas.
They also settle where many favorite plants grow:
- dacridium cypress (rimu);
- pseudotsugi yew leaf;
- Polycarpus dacridiiformes;
- totara;
- nothofagus;
- tawa;
- Metrosideros umbelliferum;
- makomako;
- rubus (raspberry);
- coriaria;
- hebe;
- coprosmas.
Thickets of these plants are called “Kakapo Parrot.”.
At the moment, populations can be found on the islands of Anchor, Stewart, and Codfish.
Lifestyle
Owl parrots love solitude, silence, and night. And only during the mating season do they look for partners. Birds of this species are characterized by a nocturnal lifestyle. Due to its lack of flight abilities, the night parrot stays mainly on the ground. During the day, it hides in holes or rocks, and when it gets dark, it comes out to look for food. Sometimes the perch may be located directly under the tree. But, despite this, the fat, flightless parrot has strong legs, which allow it to jump well and climb trees.
What do they eat?
The kakapo parrot knows how to grind food before eating, which is why it has a small throat. Basic diet for herbivores:
- leaves;
- stems;
- berries;
- rhizomes;
- young bark;
- sunflower seeds and seeds;
- fruits (especially favorite, “rimu”);
- inflorescences with nectar and pollen;
- moss;
- Mushrooms.
According to scientists, Kakapo eats about 25 species of plants.
Owl parrots are long-lived. Many claim that the bird can live to be almost 100 years old, but scientists refute this fact since, according to official statistics, the life expectancy of the Kakapo does not exceed 60 years.
Owl parrots are long-lived. Many claim that the bird can live to be almost 100 years old, but scientists refute this fact, since according to official statistics, the life expectancy of the Kakapo does not exceed 60 years.
A little history
Many centuries ago, due to the absence of mammalian predators on the islands of New Zealand, owl parrots lost the ability to fly.
The colonization of the islands by Europeans and their importation of rats, cats, and stoats destroyed the unfortunate parrots, who simply did not have the opportunity to hide from predatory animals.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Kakapo parrot had already become an endangered species. By 1960, only 200 individuals could be counted. The gradual dispersal of the captured birds throughout the New Zealand islands brought little benefit since they were all males. And at the beginning of 1970, there were only 17 of them left.
But desperate ornithologists continued to fight. The ingenious solution was to isolate the birds from predators in the reserve, give them vitamin D supplements in their diet, and massively expand the areas with Rimu trees. Thanks to this, by 2000, it was possible to raise 62 night parrots. The birds began a “baby boom,\” and every year they delighted with new offspring.
By the beginning of 2019, 147 Kakapo parrot had already been counted. Although the birds are actually in the reserve under the supervision of people, scientists are trying to teach them to be independent as much as possible and hope that in the near future they will be able to completely release them to live in the natural environment (on islands where there are no imported predators).
Reproduction and care of offspring
Kakapo is the only species with a polygynous reproductive system (a male can have several partners at the same time during the mating season) and mating. Females become mature after 6 years, and males after 4. The breeding season runs from the beginning of winter to the beginning of spring, but not every year.
During the mating season, males call the ladies in a unique way:
- feathers are inflated (each bird becomes like a ball);
- choose higher places where they dig a “bowl-hole” up to 10 cm deep (typical only for Kakapo);
- stand in the hole and make a booming sound that can be heard up to 5 km;
- Then they emit a kind of tinkling sound, which gives the female the opportunity to determine their location and show their readiness to mate.
To create specific sounds, males use a “throat pouch,” and the sounds themselves are scientifically called “calling.” The mating of males lasts at night throughout the entire mating season. Whoever “screams” more will have more fans. What’s interesting is that males dig a lot of holes to cover large areas. Accordingly, in addition to the “song competition,” male parrots also compete by running between their holes, where their partners are waiting for them.
After successful mating, the female lays up to four eggs and then incubates them herself. The incubation period lasts for 30 days. Caring for the chicks and feeding the young falls entirely on the shoulders of the mother. The male does not live in the “family” and does not take any part in raising the offspring. Strong chicks leave the parent\’s nest at the age of 4 months but remain in the care of their mother until about six months.
Credit: Flickr
Is it possible to keep Kakapo at home?
It is not recommended to breed owl parrots at home. For birds, an ordinary home environment is not suitable, and recreating comfortable conditions as close to natural as possible is, in practice, very difficult and expensive. Those who still risk having a nocturnal bird will need to spend a lot of time arranging a cage or aviary and providing good nutrition. The pet, in turn, will always delight you with its intelligence, good nature, devotion, and friendliness. But it is also worth remembering that without human participation and a lack of proper attention, the bird will simply become depressed and die.
The night parrot has already been declared extinct from the face of the earth. But by a happy coincidence, thanks to the efforts of ornithologists, the population, which is part of the heritage of the Maori people as well as one of the elements of the global ecosystem, was saved from extinction.
An important role in this was played by the mass cultivation of Rimu trees by biologists. If at the beginning of 1970 only 17 owl individuals were known, then in 2019 the number of birds reached almost 200, and they are actively breeding. But according to ornithologists, it is too early to talk about the complete restoration of the species. The owl parrot should not only remain in history but also delight others with its presence. And for this, people need to support and help the project to preserve the Kakapo population in the world.
Also check: How To Set Up A Cage For A Parrot
Also check: What are pink parrots called?
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