All Animals

North Island Kaka

Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis
Bird

Step into the world of our North Island kaka and unlock the wonders of these extraordinary creatures

A North Island Kaka perched amongst the foliage

The kaka is a large parrot belonging to the family that includes the cheeky kea and the extinct Norfolk Island kaka.

The birds are mainly diurnal but are active at night during fine weather or a full moon.

The kaka has greatly declined, in part from habitat loss, and in part because of introduced wasps, possums and bees, which compete with the kaka for the honeydew excreted by scale insects.  

Quick facts

Distribution:

New Zealand

Habitat:

Native forests

Conservation Status:

Endangered

Fun fact

Kaka use their powerful bill to rip into deteriorating wood