The kea is a mountain-dwelling parrot known for its intelligence, curiosity, and destructive habits.

Nature · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: New Zealand's alpine kea are not your average parrots. These olive-green birds are famous for solving complex puzzles, using tools, and dismantling cars. While their cognitive abilities rival those of primates, their inquisitive nature often puts them at odds with humans, leading to a complex history of conflict and protection.

Endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, the kea (Nestor notabilis) is a large, omnivorous parrot that thrives in harsh alpine environments. Weighing an average of 922 grams, these birds possess a distinct, curved upper beak and brilliant orange underwing feathers. Their survival is tied to their remarkable cognitive flexibility; they can plan ahead, use tools, and solve logical puzzles through trial and error. This intelligence, while vital for finding food in the mountains, often manifests as mischievous behavior, such as investigating backpacks, prying apart rubber car components, or even stealing tourist items like passports.

The kea's relationship with humans has been fraught with controversy. By the mid-1860s, sheep farmers suspected the birds of attacking livestock, leading to a government-sanctioned bounty that resulted in the deaths of over 150,000 kea in the century preceding 1970. While some remained skeptical of these claims, video evidence from 1992 confirmed that some kea do indeed attack healthy sheep to feed on fat. Today, the species is protected under the 1986 Wildlife Act, yet they face modern threats including lead poisoning from building materials, predation by invasive mammals, and traffic accidents near tourist hotspots.

Despite their protected status, the kea remains endangered. Their curiosity, which once helped them adapt to extreme conditions, now drives them to ingest toxic materials or approach dangerous roads. Conservation efforts are ongoing, ranging from installing warning signs to building specialized structures like a 'kea gym' near the Homer Tunnel to lure birds away from traffic. As a species that has evolved over five million years from a 'proto-kākā' ancestor, the kea remains a unique, albeit challenging, icon of New Zealand's natural heritage.

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