Antipodes Parakeet
Cyanoramphus unicolor
The Antipodes Parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor) is a legendary old world parrot found only in New Zealand, weighing about 149 g. The Antipodes parakeet or Antipodes Island parakeet is a parrot in the family Psittaculidae that is endemic to the Antipodes Islands of New Zealand.
About the Antipodes Parakeet
The Antipodes parakeet or Antipodes Island parakeet is a parrot in the family Psittaculidae that is endemic to the Antipodes Islands of New Zealand. It is one of two parrot species found on the islands, and one of only five ground-dwelling parrots in the world. They are long-living birds that may live up to 10 years of age, but the introduction of mice that compete with them for food was a threat to their survival on the Antipodes Islands until the mice were successfully eradicated from the Islands in 2016. Unusually for parrots, they sometimes prey upon other birds, a trait shared by another New Zealand parrot, the kea.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
It is the largest species in the genus Cyanoramphus at 30 cm (12 in) long. and makes a penetrating kok-kok-kok-kok noise.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, November, December, with peak activity in December. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Antipodes Parakeet?
- It is the largest species in the genus Cyanoramphus at 30 cm (12 in) long. and makes a penetrating kok-kok-kok-kok noise.
- How big is an Antipodes Parakeet?
- The Antipodes Parakeet is a medium sized bird weighing about 149 g.
- Where can you see an Antipodes Parakeet?
- The Antipodes Parakeet is endemic to New Zealand, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to an Antipodes Parakeet?
- The Antipodes Parakeet is most easily confused with the Chatham Islands Parakeet, the Norfolk Parakeet and the New Caledonian Parakeet.
- Is the Antipodes Parakeet endangered?
- The Antipodes Parakeet is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Antipodes Parakeet for real
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