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Kakapo

Strigops habroptilus

Critically Endangered · IUCN Red List

CRCritically EndangeredEndemicSeedsMarineHuge · 2.3 kg
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), photo 1
Photo: Department of Conservation · CC BY 2.0
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), photo 2
Photo: Alastair Morrison/Department of Conservation · CC BY 2.0
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), photo 3
Photo: Department of Conservation · CC BY 2.0
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), photo 4
Photo: Buller, Walter Lawry Sir 1838-1906 · Public domain
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), photo 5
Photo: Kimberley Collins · CC BY 2.0
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), photo 6
Photo: Kimberley Collins · CC BY 2.0
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), photo 7
Photo: Auckland Museum Collections from Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), photo 8
Photo: Department of Conservation · CC BY 2.0
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), photo 9
Photo: Department of Conservation · CC BY 2.0
Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), photo 10
Photo: Department of Conservation · CC BY 2.0

ID tip

The kākāpō is a large, rotund parrot. Adults can measure from 58 to 64 cm (23 to 25 in) in length with a wingspan of 82 cm (32 in). Males are significantly heavier than females with an average weight of 2 kg (4.4 lb) compared with just 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) for females. Kākāpō are the heaviest living species of parrot and on average weigh about 400 g (14 oz) more than the largest flying parrot, the hyacinth macaw. The kākāpō cannot fly, having relatively short wings for its size and lacking the keel on the sternum (breastbone), where the flight muscles of other birds attach.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Kakapo

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 11 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is December, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Kakapo

Regular range

The map shades 1 country with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

New Zealand

About the Kakapo

The kākāpō, sometimes known as the owl-parrot, is a species of large, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrot of the superfamily Strigopoidea. It is endemic to New Zealand.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Kea (Nestor notabilis) KeaNestor notabilisThe kea is a large parrot measuring 46 to 50 cm (18 to 20 in) in length, with some specimens possibly reaching 55 cm (22 in). New Zealand Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) New Zealand KakaNestor meridionalisThe New Zealand kākā is a medium-sized parrot, measuring 45 cm (18 in) in length and weighing from 390 to 560 g (14 to 20 oz), with an average of 452 g (0.996 lb).

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