Kea
The kea is the only alpine parrot in the world and one of the most intelligent birds alive. Found exclusively on the South Island of New Zealand, it makes its home in subalpine forests, rocky slopes, and valleys that sit well above sea level. Its plumage is mostly olive green, with vivid orange feathers on the underside of its wings that flash brilliantly in flight. The kea has a curved, powerful beak it uses to dig up roots, tear apart bark, and investigate almost any object it finds. It feeds on roots, berries, leaves, seeds, insects, and occasionally carrion. Studies have shown it can solve puzzles, work in teams, and even understand probability, placing it among the smartest non-human animals. The kea is listed as Endangered, threatened mainly by stoats, possums, and rats introduced to New Zealand.
Habitat and distribution
New Zealand's South Island is the only place on Earth where the kea lives. It occupies a wide band of elevation, from beech forests on the lower mountain slopes all the way up into the subalpine and alpine zones above the tree line, where snow can linger well into spring. The Fiordland, Westland, and Nelson Lakes regions hold some of the largest populations. Rather than migrating, kea move up and down the mountains with the seasons, descending to lower valleys during the harshest winter conditions. They are equally at home on rocky outcrops, scree slopes, and in mountain car parks, where curious individuals are a familiar sight to visitors exploring national parks across the Southern Alps.
Diet
Few birds have a diet as broad as the kea's. It feeds on roots, bulbs, berries, leaves, seeds, nectar, and insects, and will also consume carrion when the opportunity arises. Its powerful, curved beak is well suited to prying bark from trees in search of grubs, digging into the soil for roots, and cracking open tough seed cases. The kea is an opportunistic forager, meaning it constantly explores its surroundings for anything edible. In areas near human activity, it has learned to raid rubbish bins and pick apart unattended food. By carrying seeds across mountain terrain, it also contributes to the regeneration of native plants, giving it a quiet but genuine role in the health of the alpine ecosystem.
Intelligence and behavior
Among birds, the kea stands out as one of the most intellectually impressive species ever studied. Research has shown that kea can solve puzzles requiring multiple steps, cooperate with other individuals to obtain a reward, and even grasp the concept of probability, a skill once thought to belong only to humans and a handful of other mammals. They are intensely playful, especially as juveniles, and spend hours manipulating objects, sliding down snowy slopes, and investigating anything unfamiliar. This curiosity drives them to pull rubber seals from car windows, dismantle boots left outside huts, and pry at anything within reach. Far from being destructive for no reason, this behavior reflects a sharp, active mind always looking for something new to engage with.
Reproduction
Kea typically begin breeding between July and January, nesting in sheltered spots such as deep rock crevices, burrows dug into the ground, or hollow spaces beneath the roots of large trees. The female lays between two and five eggs and takes on most of the incubation, which lasts around three weeks. The male plays a critical supporting role, bringing food to the female throughout incubation and continuing to provision both her and the chicks after hatching. Juveniles stay with the family group for several months, learning skills through play and observation. Breeding success can vary sharply from year to year, and in seasons when introduced predators such as stoats are at high numbers, nest failure rates rise considerably.
Conservation
Classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the kea faces serious pressure from several directions. Stoats, rats, and possums, all introduced to New Zealand by humans, prey on eggs, chicks, and nesting females, and are considered the primary driver of population decline. Estimates place the total wild population somewhere between three thousand and seven thousand individuals. The New Zealand Department of Conservation runs predator control operations across key mountain areas, including aerial drops of poison bait to reduce stoat numbers. Lead poisoning from building materials has also affected kea in areas near human structures, prompting efforts to remove the source. Public education plays a growing role in conservation, encouraging people not to feed kea, which draws them closer to roads and other hazards.
Technical factsheet
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the kea really a parrot?
Yes, the kea is a true parrot, and a remarkable one at that. It belongs to the family Psittacidae and is the only parrot in the world that lives in an alpine environment. While most people picture parrots in tropical rainforests, the kea thrives in the cold, rugged mountain landscapes of New Zealand's South Island, often surrounded by snow for months at a time.
How intelligent is the kea?
The kea is considered one of the most intelligent birds on the planet. Scientists have shown it can solve problems with multiple steps, work together with other kea to get a reward, and even understand probability at a basic level. That last ability was long thought to be unique to humans and a few other mammals. Its curiosity and problem solving skills are on display every day in the wild.
Why do kea damage cars?
Kea are intensely curious birds that explore everything within reach, and cars happen to offer all sorts of interesting materials to investigate. They pull at rubber seals around windows, pry off wipers, and pick at any loose fitting part they can find. This behavior is not aggression. It is simply a reflection of a highly active mind looking for stimulation. Car parks near national parks in the Southern Alps are famous for kea encounters.
What are the biggest threats to the kea?
The greatest threat to the kea comes from predators introduced to New Zealand by humans, particularly stoats, rats, and possums. These animals prey on eggs, chicks, and females sitting on nests, causing nest failure rates to spike in bad years. Lead poisoning from old building materials has also harmed kea living near human structures. The total wild population is estimated at somewhere between three thousand and seven thousand individuals.
Where exactly does the kea live?
The kea is found only on the South Island of New Zealand, with no natural population anywhere else in the world. It favors mountain environments, from beech forests on the lower slopes up to rocky terrain above the tree line. The Fiordland, Westland, and Nelson Lakes regions are home to some of the strongest populations. Kea move up and down in elevation with the seasons rather than traveling long distances horizontally.
What does the kea eat?
The kea eats a surprisingly wide variety of food, including roots, berries, leaves, seeds, nectar, insects, and carrion. Its strong, curved beak lets it dig into soil, strip bark from trees, and crack open tough seed cases with ease. Near human settlements, it has learned to raid rubbish bins and steal unattended snacks. This flexible approach to finding food is one of the reasons the kea has managed to survive in such a demanding environment.
Is the kea endangered?
Yes, the kea is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The wild population is estimated at between three thousand and seven thousand individuals, a relatively small number for a species spread across New Zealand's South Island. Conservation efforts include predator control programs run by the New Zealand Department of Conservation, such as aerial drops of poison bait to reduce stoat numbers, as well as public education campaigns to keep kea safe around roads and human activity.