The kakapo, or as it is called the “owl parrot,” is the most amazing representative of its genus. It received this name for a reason - these parrots really look like owls, are awake at night and have a facial disc.

The Kakapo's habitat is the dense forests of New Zealand. There, under the roots of trees, the largest parrot in the world makes a hole for itself, in which it sleeps all day. And after sunset he goes out for walks and searches for food.

Due to the fact that the kakapo had no need to escape from enemies, he lost the ability to fly. But his way of moving is no less interesting - he plans, walks, climbs and jumps. This bird has developed strong leg muscles. On the ground it moves quickly, covering kilometers in search of food.

Kakapo (owl parrot) - lat. Strigops habroptila.

Two more interesting features of this parrot are sounds and smell. Its calls can easily be confused with a howl, grunt or donkey cry, and they can also produce a “metallic” sound similar to a “ding.” What about the smell - it gives off a strong, pleasant, and somewhat cloying smell. This is due to the fact that they send signals to each other using their sense of smell.

To others distinctive behavior a parrot freezes when frightened. They try to blend into the background, freezing in place. And what is especially noteworthy is that each individual has a unique character, habits and temperament. Some are sociable, some are distrustful, and many like to eat a lot. But all of them common feature– they quickly and easily become attached to a person, after which they actively attract attention and express their sympathy.

The appearance of the kakapo is striking - it is the largest parrot in size and heaviest in weight.

Its color directly depends on the camouflage conditions - the upper part is greenish with spots, and the lower part is yellow, light and with pale inclusions. The parrot's feet are four-toed and covered in scales, and the tail appears frayed from being dragged along the ground.

Listen to the voice of an owl parrot

Also, the owl parrot is famous for its longevity. Their lifespan is up to 100 years. However, no one has established this age accurately, because none of the observed kakapo has yet died of old age.

The basis of the kakapo's diet is rimu or dacridium, the fruit of a tree widespread in New Zealand. In addition, they eat seeds, bark, leaves, pollen, stems, fruits, bulbs and roots. Observed characteristic way absorption of fruits. Parrots suck out the beneficial components, after which only a ball of fiber remains on the plant.

Kakapo breeding does not occur every year and depends on the abundance of food. Males, during the breeding season - December, swell, climb onto the most high points area and make a “boom” sound followed by a “ding” sound, heard in a circle of 5 km. Thus, they compete for the location of females. This behavior, “lecking,” is not typical for parrots. The female chooses the male by sound and sets off towards him. Birds lay from 1 to 4 eggs, and after a month new offspring can be seen. The rest of the time, kakapo are known as loners.

Owl parrot, or as it is called, is a very rare bird, which is the only one that cannot fly among all parrots. Its name translates as: night parrot.

It has yellow-green plumage which helps it camouflage while resting. This bird is listed in Krasnaya. A constant recount of individuals of this species is carried out.

The extinction situation is due to the fact that humans are constantly changing their habitats, and predators see them as easy prey. People breed kakapo in artificial conditions, after which they release them into the forests to live independently.

What is not taken into account is that these parrots are poorly adapted to breeding in captivity. This is very old look parrots, it is possible that they are one of the oldest species of parrots that have not become extinct to this day.

Owl parrot lives among the plains, hills, mountains, in the remote and impenetrable rainforests of the south-west of New Zealand. For living, they choose cavities in rocks or burrows in the ground. This one got its name because it is very similar to, it has the same feathers around its eyes.

Owl parrot in the photo looks quite large, which is not surprising, because the kakapo weighs about 4 kilograms, and its length reaches 60 cm. It has a completely undeveloped pectoral keel and weak wings. Combined with a short tail, this makes long flights impossible.

Also, the fact that parrots of this species began to move mainly on their feet was influenced by the fact that in New Zealand there were no mammalian predators that could pose a threat to the bird.

Pictured is an owl parrot, kakapo.

After the island was colonized by Europeans, the situation changed dramatically - a threat emerged both from mammals brought by people and from the people themselves. The kakapo became easy prey.

Due to the fact that the kakapo parrot most often moves on the ground, it has strong legs, they help it in getting food. Despite the size of the owl parrot, he is like a climber, easily climbing quite tall trees and can fly a maximum of 30 meters above the ground. He uses this skill to quickly descend from them, gliding on his wings.

Wet forests, as a habitat, this parrot was not chosen by chance. This choice was influenced by the owl parrot’s diet and its camouflage. Kakapos feed on 25 different plants, but the most favorite are flower pollen, roots, fresh juicy grass, mushrooms.

They select only soft parts of bushes that they can break off with the help of their strong beak. Small lizards are also sometimes included in the kakapo's diet, and in captivity the bird loves to be treated to sweets.

Distinctive feature This bird is considered to have a rather strong smell, which is reminiscent of the smell of honey or flowers from the field. This smell helps them find their partners.

Character and lifestyle of the owl parrot

The kakapo is a nocturnal parrot that lives at night. active life, and for the day settles down in the shade of trees, in a secluded place. During rest, he is saved by camouflage under forest foliage; it helps him remain unnoticed by predators.

He finds places where his food grows (berries, mushrooms and herbal bushes) by walking along previously trodden paths. News night image In life, the bird is greatly helped by its good sense of smell.

The kakapo is called the owl parrot because of its resemblance to an owl.

Reproduction and lifespan of the owl parrot

Usually, owl parrot breeding occurs at the beginning of the year (January - March). This bird is known to have a very shrill and unusual voice. To attract a female, males call her with a special low sound, which is very clearly audible to females, even if they are several kilometers away.

Hearing this call, the female begins her long journey to a hole prepared in advance by the male, in which she waits for her chosen one. The choice of partner for these parrots is based solely on appearance.

In the photo there is an owl parrot with a chick

A very interesting moment of mating is mating dance performed by a male kakapo: swinging his wings, opening his beak and running around his partner. All this is accompanied by very funny sounds that it produces.

And this time the female evaluates how well the male is trying to please her. After a short mating process, the female begins to arrange the nest, while the male, in turn, continues to attract new females for mating. The further process of hatching and raising the chicks takes place without his intervention.

Nests for their reproduction are the usual habitats of kakapo: burrows, depressions in which there are several exits. The female builds a special tunnel for the chicks.

Female owl parrot rarely lays many eggs. Most often, there are no more than two eggs in a nest, or even just one. The eggs are very similar in appearance to pigeon eggs: the same color and size.

Owl parrot chicks

The process of incubating the chicks usually lasts a month, after which the female remains with the chicks until they learn to exist independently. While the chicks are small, the female never deviates far from them and always returns to the nest at their first call.

Owl parrot nesting happens very rarely, once every couple of years. The fact that a parrot lays a maximum of two eggs at a time has a very detrimental effect on the reproduction and total number of birds of this species.

Buy an owl parrot It is impossible to maintain the house, since it is very rare and is under close surveillance. Keeping him in captivity is prohibited.

Such actions could further aggravate the situation with their extinction. Locals This bird is often caught as delicious meat. Hunting kākāpō is illegal and carries legal penalties.

In this article I will talk about one of the most unique birds on the planet - the kakapo or owl parrot. You will learn the history of where this parrot lives, the bird’s lifestyle and characteristics, why the species is on the verge of extinction and what measures are being taken to save it.

The owl parrot or kakapo is a flightless bird found in a limited range in New Zealand (endemism).

The owl parrot was first described by ornithologist George Robert Gray in 1845. The name kakapo comes from the Maori language - the indigenous tribe of New Zealand: kākā - parrot, pō - night.

The common ancestor of kakapo and kea (genus Nestor) became isolated from other parrots when New Zealand separated from the continent of Gondwanaland about 82 million years ago. 70 million years ago, the kakapo completely diverged from the Nestor family.

The owl parrot used to live throughout New Zealand. There were no land predators on the islands separated from the continent. The bird gradually lost its ability to fly.

Main natural enemies parrot for a long time there were eagles and other birds of prey.

Because they hunt during the day, the kakapo has adapted to a nocturnal lifestyle and acquired camouflage plumage.

Characteristics of the owl parrot

Appearance:

• body length from 58 to 64 cm;
• weight from 2 to 4 kg;
• color: greenish-yellow on the underside, dark green on the upper side, black stripes on the back; brown, lemon stripes, black specks all over the body;
• the facial feathers form a disc shape, which is characteristic of owls;
• large beak is bluish-gray, surrounded by vibrissae for orientation in the dark;
• feathers are extremely soft;
• eyes dark brown;
• limbs are developed, wide, covered with scales; the claws are large and strong, adapted for vertical climbing;
• the wings are well developed; the keel and the muscles that attach the wings to it are atrophied.

A unique characteristic of kakapo is its specific smell, similar to the aroma of honey and honeycomb.

Scientists suggest that this is a pheromone for communicating signals to each other.

Where do kakapo live and how do they live?

Today, kakapo live only on Little Barrier and Codfish Islands under the control of a conservation group. Habitats are semi-tropical forests and bushes, which are completely cleared of terrestrial predators.

Bird lifestyle

Kakapo dig burrows near tree roots and boulders with a nesting chamber with exits in two directions. Here parrots spend daylight hours. An hour after sunset, the kakapo go in search of food.

The owl parrot is a solitary bird; females and males come together only for mating.

Each adult bird has its own territory, which reaches up to 50 hectares.

Kakapos have an excellent sense of smell, good vision In the dark, strong legs and wide feet. Birds are able to easily move 1-5 kilometers, climb treetops and glide on their wings up to 30 m.

Despite the large beak and developed legs, kakapos do not defend themselves. In times of danger, they freeze in place, trying to merge with surrounding nature. The smell that comes from birds often becomes a navigator for predators.

Kakapo are not afraid of people - for the most part they are good-natured. The habits of birds in relation to humans are reminiscent of cats and dogs.

Parrots love to sit on your shoulder or hands, are responsive to caresses and eat from your hands.

But at the same time, they are often aggressive with each other. If two individuals collide on the same path in search of food, then a fight is inevitable. The male, who is usually hospitable to the female during mating, can inflict fatal injuries on her.

The average lifespan of a kakapo is 58 years, the maximum is about 95 years. This is speculative data, since the parrots studied did not die of natural old age.

Nutrition

Parrots feed on seeds, fruits, stems, pollen and bark particles from 25 species of native plants. But the main preference is given to the fruits and seeds of Dacridium cypress (Rima). When they are abundant, kakapos feed only on them.

The owl parrot has a slow metabolism compared to other birds, due to the lack of the need to fly.

They are able to survive on a meager diet.

The bird grabs the fruit or leaves with its claws, and selects the softest parts with its beak. As a result, a dense lump of poorly digestible plant fibers is formed, which remains untouched. Using these lumps, scientists determine where birds feed.

Reproduction

Males begin to mate at 5 years of age, females at 9–11 years of age. The kakapo is the only parrot that displays mating to attract a mate. At the same time, they produce low-frequency sounds (more than 100 Hz), inflating the throat sacs. To make the call sound further and in different directions, males dig several holes that act as resonators.

The breeding season lasts 3-4 months. All this time, every night, the male wanders between his pits, mating for 8 hours. After the call, the females themselves come to him, and the male performs a mating dance.

After mating, females return to their territory to lay eggs. Males continue the current to attract other females.

Owl parrots make nests in rock crevices, cavities of old trunks and tree stumps. They lay 1-2 eggs, very rarely - 3. Females hatch the eggs conscientiously, but are forced to leave them every night to search for food. During this period, eggs are vulnerable to predators, and embryos can die from the cold.

On average, after 30 days, fluffy and gray chicks are born, which become feathered after 70 days. Females feed and care for the chicks for up to 3-6 months. After this, young parrots begin an independent life.

Females mate only after gaining a certain body weight, regardless of age.

Therefore, in seasons with scarce food, they may not respond to the male’s call. The sex of future chicks depends on the mother's diet. When protein food predominates, male chicks are mainly born, and when food is less nutritious, female chicks are born.

Extermination and conservation measures

In 1250-1300 New Zealand The ancestors of the Maori arrived and brought with them dogs and rats. The owl parrot found itself defenseless against terrestrial predators and people. Maori ate meat and used feathers and bird heads for ritual clothing and jewelry.

But the real threat to the species appeared in the 1800s after the colonization of the islands by Europeans. Together with them, ferrets, cats, stoats and weasels came to the kakapo homeland - the massive destruction of bird populations began.

The owl parrot is endangered and is listed on the IUCN Red List.

The species is included in Appendix I of CITES, which makes trade and export of the bird from its range illegal. There are no owl parrots in zoos or private breeders.

Measures to preserve the species began at the end of the 19th century, but did not lead to much success.

In 1989, a program for the restoration and protection of the owl parrot was developed.

A special group has been created, which works under the control of the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

The parrot has a lot of fans at home and around the world. Scientists and volunteers are involved in the program to save the species. The financial fund is regularly replenished by private individuals. This makes it possible to use expensive technologies to track birds. All parrots live on islands, protected from predators, and controlled by radio transmitters.

Kakapo conservation measures

• arrangement of smart feeding stations that can identify females using transmitters and control their diet;
• installing security cameras at nesting sites;
• control over each clutch: heating if necessary, replacement of eggs, artificial incubation, removal of weak chicks;
• daily monitoring of chick weight gain;
• annual kākāpō health monitoring;
• protecting the islands from predators.

The main measures to restore the species are described here. The program is extensive and well planned. As of April 2018, the number of birds was 149 individuals. This is twice as much as at the beginning of the program. All kakapo are given names.

The birth of each chick is covered in the New Zealand media and becomes a cause of universal joy and pride. Then, a competition for the best name is announced.

The most common cause of extinction of bird and animal species is human activity. In pursuit of comfort, we do not think about our neighbors on the planet. Programs to save endangered species are created only in critical situations, so they often do not bring results. But the situation of kakapo today is stable and inspires confidence in the future of these amazing birds.

» Kakapo

Kakapo

Kakapo is a very unusual parrot, found exclusively in New Zealand. His Latin name translates to something like "an owl with the face of a soft feather." They have very soft feathers and a distinct flat “face” of feathers, like an owl. Therefore kakapo is also known as owl parrot.

Kakapo unique in many ways. This is the only night parrot in the world. In fact, the word kakapo means “night parrot” in the Aboriginal Maori language.

Unfortunately, this species is now endangered; as of 2012, their number was only 126 individuals. Habitat destruction and attacks by domestic cats are responsible for the decline in their numbers.

Adult birds are vulnerable to cats and birds that have been artificially introduced to New Zealand. Their defense strategy of standing still and relying on protective coloration was effective when their only enemies were birds. But mammals find them by smell.

Their eggs and chicks can be easily destroyed even by rats. Kakapo females are single mothers. They incubate the eggs and raise the chicks themselves, so when they wander away from the nest in search of food, the eggs and chicks become especially vulnerable to predators.

Thanks to human efforts, artificial insemination and raising chicks, the catastrophic extinction of kakapo has now been stopped, but it has not yet been possible to increase their numbers. The matter is complicated by the parrots themselves: with a lifespan of 60 years, they reach reproductive age only at 9-12 years, after which they reproduce every 2-4 years, most often bearing one or two eggs. Due to the isolation of the population, kakapo have very low genetic diversity and, as a result, weak ability to reproduce.

During the breeding season, male parrots flock together and display their presence, announcing their presence with loud, repeated "booms" that can often be heard up to 5 km away.

Kakapo is a classic example of a unique population on an isolated island free of land predators. On the mainland, the existence of such a bird would be impossible.

Here are some interesting facts about kakapo:

• This is the only non-flying parrot in the world and has very soft feathers. They use their short wings to maintain balance, so their feathers are much softer than those of other birds - they do not need to support flight.
• This bird has strong legs, which make it an excellent traveler and climber. He can climb tall trees and jump from there, using his soft wings as a parachute.
• Kakapo is nocturnal. It sleeps in trees or directly on the ground all day, and only becomes active at night.
• The kakapo has a sickly sweet odor and a well-developed sense of smell, useful for its nocturnal lifestyle. This helps the parrots find each other in the forest.
• They are friendly. Maori and European settlers kept kakapo as pets. Even wild kākāpō will no doubt approach people to inquisitively. George Edward Gray, the English ornithologist who first described the kakapo in 1845, wrote that the parrot's behavior was "more like a dog than a bird."
• They are long-lived and live at a slow pace. Males do not think about offspring until they are four years old, while females take about six years. But in good conditions they live more than 90 years.
• Males attract females with group songs and dances. During the mating season, the male may walk several kilometers to reach the meeting place with other gentlemen. There, each of them digs a cup in the ground so that the marriage call can sound properly. Kakapo songs can last for eight hours, every night for 2-4 months.

Photos of Kakapo:

Kakapo with a man Kakapo with a man

The endemic bird, the Kakapo owl parrot, lives on the southern islands of New Zealand. It is known as the only species of non-flying parrot, although in comparison with other brethren it has little in common, only the habit of eating seeds and fruits and a camouflage color with a predominance of green-yellow tones with black splashes.

Kakapo are among the ancient animals and birds that have survived to this day. They were common on the islands of New Zealand, where there were no predators. As a result, there was no need for flight, and the wings atrophied, or rather the muscles that move them. The owl-like parrot uses them to glide down from trees. It can fly less than 30 meters. The short tail is unable to steer and the Kakapo lands awkwardly on the ground.

Kakapo is a representative of the most ancient fauna of our planet

Kakapo, like all parrots in Australia and the islands around it, are endemic birds - living only in one area and not common in other places.

They live on average 95 years and are the largest parrots. Male weight 4 kg, female 2.8 kg. At the end of the last century, owl parrots remained on only three islands:

• Maud;
• Codfish;
• Small Barrier Reef.

The first population decline began after the Maori moved to the islands. They caught gullible, unafraid birds and ate their meat. Cloaks were made from soft feathers. Maori chiefs adorned themselves with the heads of owl parrots. Their ethnicity often refers to the Kakapo. The forests in which the birds lived began to be cut down for planting potatoes and other crops. Bird habitats have begun to decline.

People killed these birds for tasty meat and beautiful feathers

The white man came to the islands with his animals, including predators. A parrot with a face similar to an owl is accustomed to freezing motionless when in danger. It blended into the area with its color and was difficult to notice. But it is impossible to deceive a predator’s sense of smell. Moreover, the birds emit a strong floral-honey smell. The number of Kakapo began to decline sharply, and they practically disappeared. People killed birds for their feathers, making them into jewelry.

When scientists raised the alarm, there were no more birds on the islands inhabited by people. As a result, ornithologists found only 19 individuals and all males. Over time, having examined other islands, they also found females, leaving a total of 125 owl parrots. Birds were moved to the islands:

• Codfish;
• Little Birrier;
• Anchor;
• Stewart.

Kakapo are prohibited from being taken out of the country. Nature reserves have been created for birds on islands where there are no predators. Ornithologists are trying in every possible way to increase the number of rare birds, even going so far as to place their eggs under chickens, raise the chicks, feed them and release them into the reserve. Scientists have set themselves the task of increasing the number of females by 50 individuals every year.

Owl parrots prefer to live alone, not recognizing flocks. Choosing elevations up to 1500 meters above sea level. Wet forests and dense bushes. They sleep during the day in crevices, between tree roots. They go to feed along well-trodden paths. They are nocturnal. They are different from other parrots in every way.

Owl parrot stoops when walking

All species of Australian parrots constantly roam in search of water and food. They fly up to 30 km per day. Sometimes flocks consist of representatives different types. Birds remain sedentary only during the nesting period. The kakapo does not stray far from the nest, although it can freely walk several kilometers a day. It lives in one place all its life and marks its territory with its scent. The posture of parrots from Australia is majestic and royal. Kakapo slouch, retract their head and constantly lower it down.

Externally, Kakapo is very different from its relatives. It has a large body, up to 60 cm long, and a wide chest. The tail is short with frayed feathers as it drags along the ground when walking. The wings are small. The feathers are very soft. Perhaps they lost their hardness along with the need to fly.

Close-set eyes look forward. The owl-faced parrot had no need for peripheral vision, since there was no one to fear. Circular feathers - a halo of black eyes, making the parrot look like an owl, are arranged like a flat disk and are a locator. The thin whiskers around the beak act as cat whiskers and allow the Kakapo to move around at night without bumping into obstacles.

The owl parrot has strong legs with sharp claws. He walks quickly, climbs trees, rocks, digs holes and even holes for daytime sleep. The large gray beak with serrations crushes food, is sometimes used for climbing trees, and helps the paws grip.

Pretty Kakapo parrot large bird who can't fly

The bird walks with its head tilted, as if thinking, and looks gloomy. Not afraid of people. When meeting, it may dance a mating dance in front of the ornithologist if there are not enough females. Then it climbs onto the back of the neck and hits the face with its wings. Sharp claws leave shallow scratches on the human body.

The most interesting thing is that Kakapo berries are not picked. They gnaw them on the bushes and leave a bone. By these signs you can easily determine that a parrot lives nearby. It travels far from its roosting site only during the mating season.

Parrots' favorite food is rimu fruit, growing on the dacridium tree. Only they are able to provide Kakapo with the necessary quantity nutrients and vitamin D. In total, scientists have noted 20 species of plants, the fruits and seeds of which the owl-faced parrot feeds on. In addition, they can eat:

• flowers;
• bark;
• stems;
• berries;
• seeds.

Throughout the season, as long as rimu is available, birds prefer only them. Fruits contain huge amounts of vitamin D, the most important element for parrots. Without it it is impossible to raise chicks. If the fruit crop fails, female Kākāpō do not lay eggs that year.

Kakapo can eat a variety of foods

To increase the number of exotic birds, scientists have developed and created a special food containing a large number of needed by birds for vitamin reproduction. They add granules to the females’ food and scatter them in their habitats and feeding areas. As a result, the reproductive function of birds is restored.

December is the height of summer in New Zealand, located in the Southern Hemisphere. This is the time of mating and breeding for owl parrots. The ritual has been repeated without the slightest change for many centuries.

1. The male rises to the highest place, performs a certain ritual - he swells and fluffs up his feathers, becoming like a ball.
2. With strong paws it digs a semicircular hole, which it then uses as a resonator. He uses his throat sac, first booms into the hole 20 times, then begins to “talking”. Thanks to the resonator, the sound can be heard at a distance of up to 5 km.
3. Then the male runs to another hillock and repeats the whole procedure all over again.
4. As a result, the Kakapo rushes between the dug holes, repeating its tempting song.
5. The female hears the calling sound and follows it, covering several kilometers.
6. After watching the mating dance performed by the male, the parrot gives the go-ahead for mating.
7. After this, the female goes back to her territory, digs a hole there and lays 2 eggs in it. The male continues to run between the resonators for 3 months, calling for new girlfriends.

Owl parrots have a polygynous reproductive system. Males are polygamous. They run from hole to hole, trying to attract as many females as possible. During the process of making resonators, males fight with each other for best places, are fighting. As a result, the bird loses half its weight. Eats off with the onset of autumn.

After mating, the female turns around and goes home. There she digs a hole right on the ground, sometimes nestles between the roots of trees, and lays 2 eggs. IN in rare cases their number reaches 4.

A pair of Kakapo parrots before mating games

No one feeds the female, so she gets up from her nest, leaves the clutch and goes to get food, first only for herself, then for the children. There are no blades of grass for bedding or twigs fencing the nest. She incubates for a month, after which the chicks hatch with gray soft feathers. Babies develop quickly thanks to foods with plenty of vitamin D. After just 10 days, they can independently get out of the nest, or rather leave the hole in the ground. The female feeds children up to 6 months and takes care of them for up to a year.

Sexual maturity in females occurs at 6 years. Males are ready for mating games at the age of 4 years. Mating does not occur every year, only when there is a good harvest of rilu. Without these fruits it is impossible to raise chicks. At one year, young parrots disperse in different directions and begin an independent life. They don’t remember their mother and live alone.

Characteristics of Kakapo

The sullen-looking bird quickly gets used to humans and is friendly towards everyone. People who interact with Kakapo note that they have an individual character. It is impossible to find two identical birds in terms of habits and behavior.

When meeting, parrots study a person for a long time and slowly. Then, depending on the mood and attractiveness of the object, they go on their way or climb onto it to get acquainted. Dancing in front of people indicates good standing.

It is prohibited to catch owl parrots, much less take them from the islands. In the reserve they are provided with all living conditions, protected, and given excursions. In captivity, when bred under a chicken, they are kept for up to a year.

Considering the character and appearance owl parrots, Europeans only destroyed them; they did not try to keep them in captivity as decoration. Therefore, there are no Kakapo outside the New Zealand islands.