The kākāpō, sometimes known as the owl parrot or owl-faced parrot, is a species of large, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrot of the superfamily Strigopoidea. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Region
New Zealand
Typical Environment
Historically widespread across New Zealand’s North, South, and Stewart Islands in mature native forests. Today it survives only on predator-free offshore sanctuaries, notably Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) and Anchor Island. It favors temperate podocarp–broadleaf and beech forests with dense understory, ferns, and mossy ground. Birds roost under vegetation or in cavities and nest in sheltered hollows, often among tree roots. Males establish leks on ridges or hilltops where sound travels well.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The kākāpō is the world’s only flightless parrot and the heaviest parrot species. It is nocturnal and has an owl-like facial disc that enhances its hearing. Males perform spectacular nocturnal lek displays, producing deep booming calls that can carry over long distances. Intensive conservation on predator-free islands has brought this critically endangered bird back from the brink.
Lithograph by David Mitchell that accompanied Gray's original 1845 description
A year-old kākāpō on Codfish Island / Whenua Hou.
The "whiskers" around the beak
Skeleton
Historic distribution of the kākāpō: .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Maximum distribution since 1840 Fossil evidence
Individual nicknamed Trevor feeding on poroporo fruits, Maud Island
Hatching kākāpō egg
Hatchlings
Specimens at the Vienna Museum of Natural History: thousands of kākāpō were collected for museums across the world.
![Sinbad Gully in Fiordland, seen between the mountains on the far side of a fiord, was one of the last strongholds of the kākāpō on mainland New Zealand.[83]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Milford_Sound_and_Sinbad_Gully_-New_Zealand-9Jan2009.jpg/1280px-Milford_Sound_and_Sinbad_Gully_-New_Zealand-9Jan2009.jpg)
Sinbad Gully in Fiordland, seen between the mountains on the far side of a fiord, was one of the last strongholds of the kākāpō on mainland New Zealand.[83]
Department of Conservation worker with chicks
![Cat control in 1982 slowed a sharp decline in kākāpō numbers, and they have recently increased under the Kākāpō Recovery plan. Red arrows indicate breeding years. Numbers become less precise before 1995, with the 1977 figure perhaps out by 50 birds.[103]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Kakapo-population-size.svg/480px-Kakapo-population-size.svg.png)
Cat control in 1982 slowed a sharp decline in kākāpō numbers, and they have recently increased under the Kākāpō Recovery plan. Red arrows indicate breeding years. Numbers become less precise before 1995, with the 1977 figure perhaps out by 50 birds.[103]
Feathers
Sirocco on Maud Island
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
flightless; climbs and can glide short distances from heights
Social Behavior
Outside the breeding season kākāpō are largely solitary, occupying overlapping home ranges. During lek breeding, males gather at traditional display arenas and call from shallow bowls to attract females. Females alone incubate and rear the young in ground or cavity nests.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Males produce deep, resonant booming calls in long sequences at night, sometimes audible over several kilometers. They also emit metallic chings, grunts, and soft squeaks. Contact calls are generally quiet and subdued.
