Story: Birds of mountains and open country

Kea kingdom

Kea kingdom

A kea surveys its rocky alpine homeland, ready to take off in pursuit of novelty. Kea are highly curious, and will fly long distances to check on any new activity. They have been recorded flying 20 kilometres in half an hour. To survive, the birds need to search large areas for food – testing everything for something edible. On the steeper western flanks of the Southern Alps, they fly from the mountain tops to the sea.

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Department of Conservation
Reference: 10061303
Photograph by Timothy Ensom

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How to cite this page:

Christina Troup, 'Birds of mountains and open country - Kea – the mountain parrot', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/14003/kea-kingdom (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Christina Troup, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015