Antipodes Island Parakeet

Antipodes Island group, southwest of New Zealand

Dense tussock grassland, sedge areas

Leaves, seeds, berries, flowers, carrion

November - January

A tunnel dug under tussock usually

Up to five eggs incubated for 28 days

Fledge at 5-6 weeks and are fed for another week by their parents

None at present

Vulnerable, as the islands are small and the population is at risk if predators or disease reach them and protected.

The largest of the native kakariki, this is the only New Zealand parakeet with an entirely green head. It has yellow-green on its chest to under-tail, blue on flight feather edges.

Monitoring, trapping of pests, habitat recovery and limited human access protect the plants and animals of our predator-free islands.

Although forced to be ground-dwellers, these parrots are good fliers.

It nests in deep burrows and does not form flocks.

The Antipodes Island Parakeet is the world’s most southern parrot.