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Species Description
The Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) is the only extant species of flightless parrot. It is a large yellow-green parrot native to New Zealand. Despite the fact that it is terrestrial it retains the short legs of a parrot. It is nocturnal and herbivorous. The males are larger than the females and do not participate in the raising of the young. Males use a lek breeding system; they gather in small groups and make loud booming calls to attract females. The males will even dig a shallow disc in the ground that they use to amplify their calls. Following an evolutionary theme that is common amongst island bird species (e.g. the Dodo), the Kakapo lost the ability to fly because of the lack of predators in New Zealand. Unfortunately, predators such as cats and rats arrived with the first European and Polynesian colonizers. The Kakapo population has declined and as of February 2010 only 120 birds remain. This critically endangered species has had many conservation efforts brought about on its behalf. All of the birds have now been moved to two islands that are thus far free of predators in the hopes that the population will rebound.
