Kaka

The Kaka is a large, robust parrot endemic to New Zealand's forests, closely related to the mountain-dwelling Kea but adapted to life in lowland and mid-altitude native forest rather than alpine terrain. Its plumage is mostly olive-brown with a grey-white crown, scaly-patterned nape, and a brilliant crimson wash across the belly and underwings that flashes vividly in flight.

Its strong, curved grey bill is built for tearing into rotten wood and bark to extract grubs, and for husking hard seeds and cones. Kaka are intelligent, playful, and highly vocal, often first detected by their loud, harsh calls echoing through the forest canopy before they are seen.

Key field marks

• Olive-brown body plumage with a scaly-edged appearance on the nape
• Pale grey-white crown
• Crimson-red underwings and lower belly, conspicuous in flight
• Strong, curved dark grey bill
• Large size and bulky build compared to most forest birds

Similar species

• Kea is similar in shape and calls but has overall olive-green plumage (not brown), lives in alpine and subalpine habitat rather than lowland forest, and has little range overlap.
• No other New Zealand forest bird combines a large parrot silhouette with crimson underwings.

Range

Found in forested parts of both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, though now patchily distributed and often most common on predator-free islands and in well-managed mainland forest reserves.

Habitat

Prefers mature native forest, particularly podocarp and beech forest with abundant old trees offering nesting hollows, sap, and dead wood for foraging.

Migration

Generally sedentary, though birds may move seasonally between forest types to follow flowering and fruiting cycles.

Behavior

Bold, inquisitive, and highly social, often seen in small noisy groups moving through the canopy, chasing each other in acrobatic flight, and interacting playfully, behavior reminiscent of its cousin the Kea.

Voice

A loud, harsh, grating "ka-aa" call carries far through the forest, along with a range of whistles, shrieks, and softer conversational notes between birds.

Feeding

Uses its strong bill to tear bark and rotten wood for grubs, extract nectar and sap by chewing into bark, and crack open seeds and cones; it also readily takes fruit.

Nesting

Nests in cavities in large, old trees, laying its eggs on a bed of woodchips; only the female incubates, while the male feeds her throughout incubation and the early chick-rearing period.