Antipodes Island Kakariki

(Cyanoramphus unicolor)
Also known as Antipodes Island Parakeet

Live: Only found on Antipodes Island, a bleak, 62sq km, sub-Antarctic island 770km southeast of the South Island of New Zealand.

Habitat:There are no trees; tussock grasses, ferns and stunted scrub form the main habitable areas.

Diet: Seeds, grass, tussock stalks, buds, flowers. Will scavenge dead birds.
Reportedly hunts and kills grey-backed storm petrels in their burrows and take penguin eggs.
Zoo diet: seed mix, fruit & vegetables, weekly. Enclosure cleaned weekly.

Breeding: November to January.
Nest: a tunnel dug under tussock usually.
Eggs: ~ 5 elliptical, white. Incubated by the female for ~ 28 days.

Conservation status: Vulnerable and protected.

General: Size ~ 31cm. The largest of the native kakariki.
General plumage is green, yellow-green on chest to under-tail. Blue on flight feather edges.
Orange iris, pale blue-grey with black-tipped beak, grey legs and feet.

Having a very limited range means that threats such as introduced predators and habitat loss are likely to have a huge impact.

Calls: A large range of calls and soft chattering.

Habits: Although forced to be ground-dwellers, these parrots are good fliers.
They don't form flocks.

Chicks: light grey down, pink-grey legs. The male helps feed nestlings. Fledge at 5-6 weeks (presumably) and are fed for another week by their parents.