Skip to main content

Story: Land birds – overview

Kea and kākā colours

Image
Kea and kākā colours

Many of New Zealand’s birds lack bright colours – probably to avoid being noticed by eagles and other predatory birds. But these two parrots, the kea (a mountain parrot, left) and the kākā, have bright splashes of yellow and red under their wings.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PUBL-0134-052

by John Gerrard Keulemans

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Land birds – overview – Weird and wonderful birds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/9882/kea-and-kaka-colours (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerry-Jayne Wilson, published 1 March 2009.