The New Zealand Kea bird is the world's only alpine parrot, and it also has to be one of the funniest, mischievous, and intelligent creatures on our planet!
Who is the infamous New Zealand Kea bird
The New Zealand kea is a large (up to 50cm) olive-green parrot with magnificently colored underwinds and a slender grey-black bill. Its most common call is a long, loud and high-pitched descending cry which can be broken like "kee-ee-aa-aa" but also unbroken "keeeeaaaaaa"
The Kea can be found in the forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand, and are quite infamous on many of the South Island hiking tracks for their inquisitive - and destructive - behavior. They are so clever at distracting you as well...one kea might be putting up some kind of performance in front of you, whether it be toyinf with or chewing on whatever it can find to get hold of, while his or her partner in crime might be doing the damage to your belongings in the background unknowingly!
Where to find the kea bird in New Zealand
If you spend some time in the New Zealand outdoors, it shouldn't be too hard to meet the world's cheekiest parrot. It can be found from Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island as far south as Waitutu in Fiordland National Park, as well as the Kaikoura Ranges. They can be found from coastal dunes to alpine peaks, but are most commonly found in mountain forests and subalpine and alpine zones. They can typically not be found on the eastward side of the South Island.
If you plan to do some hikes in the National Parks around the South Island, then you'll most likely to meet several keas during your walks. They are also prominent on many of New Zealand's Great Walks, escpecially further south. Just remember to hang up your hiking boots at night, or you may find them without shoe-laces in the morning!
Kea Entertainment