Nestor notabilis, A Kea flying in its natural environment on 'The Remarkables' near Queenstown, New
The Lowdown
Endemic to the rugged Southern Alps of New Zealand, the kea (Nestor notabilis) is the world’s only alpine parrot. Clad in olive-green plumage with brilliant scarlet underwings visible only in flight, it is celebrated by animal behaviorists as one of the most cognitively advanced avian species.
Keas exhibit advanced multi-step logical reasoning, cooperating in pairs to pull levers, solve complex puzzle boxes, and manipulate heavy objects to access hidden food. Their inquisitive, neophilic nature drives them to investigate novel objects, famously dismantling automobile windshield wipers and rubber door seals at ski resorts.
Biological Fact: Keas possess a distinct ‘warble’ call that acts as contagious laughter; when other keas hear the sound, they spontaneously engage in acrobatic play and aerial wrestling.
Living along windswept alpine ridgelines, keas thrive in subzero blizzards where other parrots cannot survive. They nest in deep burrows beneath beech tree roots and limestone boulders, using their powerful recurved bills to excavate roots and pry apart frozen soil.
