Photo: Rosino / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
New Zealand Kaka
Nestor meridionalis
New Zealand Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) — Parrots & Cockatoos of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The New Zealand Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) is a member of the Strigopidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 428 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Psittaciformes
- Family Strigopidae New Zealand Parrots
- Genus Nestor
- Species meridionalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 428 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Strigopidae
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The New Zealand Kaka is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The New Zealand Kaka is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The New Zealand Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) belongs to the Strigopidae family of the order Psittaciformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU North, South and Stewart is. (New Zealand).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 428 g, with a wing length of about 28.4 cm and a tail of around 17.2 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 71,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the New Zealand Kaka?
The New Zealand Kaka is a large bird that weighs around 428 g.
Where does the New Zealand Kaka live?
The New Zealand Kaka is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU North, South and Stewart is. (New Zealand), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the New Zealand Kaka belong to?
The New Zealand Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) belongs to the Strigopidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.
What does the New Zealand Kaka eat?
The New Zealand Kaka is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the New Zealand Kaka migrate?
The New Zealand Kaka is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the New Zealand Kaka endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the New Zealand Kaka make?
1 real field recording of the New Zealand Kaka — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the New Zealand Kaka's range?
The New Zealand Kaka has a mapped global range of about 71,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Endangered
Extinct
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Least Concern
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