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Kōrero: Large forest birds

Kākāpō

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Kākāpō

The kākāpō is one of New Zealand’s many unusual birds. The world’s largest parrot, it is nocturnal and has a whiskery, owl-like face. Its short rounded wings are useless for flight, and its feathers are soft and sweet-smelling. It is the only parrot to have a lek breeding system – the males congregate in one area and send out booming calls to attract females from far away. Kākāpō breed only once every few years, but are very long-lived.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10059610

by Michael Szabo

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Gerard Hutching, Large forest birds – New Zealand’s large forest birds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/10550/kakapo (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Gerard Hutching, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009, updated 1 August 2023.