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Kōrero: 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.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

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.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

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

He kōrero nā Kerry-Jayne Wilson, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.