Kakapo

The kakapo is a large, round, mossy-green parrot that lives only in New Zealand. Its soft feathers are blotched with green and yellow, and it has a round face a bit like an owl, with whiskery feathers around its beak. It is a very unusual bird, and one of the most special parrots in the world.

What makes the kakapo so different is that it cannot fly at all. It is the only parrot on Earth that has given up flying. Instead it walks along the forest floor on its strong legs, and it is a wonderful climber, using its beak and feet to clamber high into the trees. It is also the heaviest of all parrots.

Kakapo are night birds. They sleep tucked away during the day and come out after dark to find food. They are plant-eaters, nibbling leaves, shoots, seeds, and fruit. Their favourite treat is the fruit of the rimu tree, and in years when there is lots of it, they feast on almost nothing else.

Kakapo are also famous for the sound the males make. When it is time to find a mate, a male puffs himself up like a feathery balloon and makes a deep, booming call that can travel a long way through the night. Kakapo can live for a very long time, sometimes for many, many years.

Sadly, the kakapo is one of the rarest birds in the world. Long ago there were lots of them, but animals like cats, rats, and stoats that were brought to New Zealand made their numbers drop. Today only around 250 kakapo are left, and they live safely on special islands with no hungry predators. A team of scientists watches over every bird, gives each one a name, and helps them raise their chicks, so that this remarkable parrot has a chance to grow in number again.