Скачать или смотреть Kakapo Facts: 11 Facts about the Kakapo

The Kakapo is one of the most beautiful yet critically endangered species of parrot in the world. Found in New Zealand is renown for its flightless-ness and ability to glide from tall trees. Here are 11 facts about Kakapos to help gain a basic understanding of the species.

Synopsis

The Kakapo is also called an Owl Parrot and it's a species
large, flightless, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrot found in New

Zealand.

Kakapos have a finely blotched yellow-green plumage.They have a distinct

facial disc of sensory virbrita like feathers. A large grey beak, short

legs, large feet and wings and a tail that is relatively short in length.

The Kakapo is the world's only flightless parrot and it is also the

heaviest parrot in the world.

The Kakapo is critically endangered and there is a total known population

of 126 living individuals as reported by Kakapo recovery programme.


The Kakapo is primarily nocturnal and roosts under cover in trees along

the ground during the day and moves around its territories at night

As they have lost the ability to fly, they have strong legs and move by

way of a rapid jog like gait by which they can move many kilometres.

It is a large rotund parrot, and the male measures up to 60cm and weighs

in at between 2-4kg at maturity.

Kakapos are herbivores and enjoy eating native plants, seeds, fruits,

pollen, and even the sapwood of trees. It is particularly fond of the

fruit of the Rimu tree and will feed on it exclusively during seasons

when it is abundant.

Each of the remaining 126 living individuals have been given a name by

the Kakapo recovery programme which helps them to keep track of them.

Although the Kakapo cannot fly it is an excellent climber and ascends to

the crowns of the tallest trees. It can also parachute, descending by

leaping and spreading its wings. In this way it may travel a few metres

at an angle of less than 45 degrees.

The Kakapo is associated with a rich tradition of Maori folklore and

beliefs. The bird's irregular breeding cycle is understood to be a

associated with heavy fruiting or masting events of a particular plant

species such as the Rimu which led Maori to credit the bird with the

ability to foretell the future.