Kakapo
Description
The kakapo is also known as the Owl parrot. It is a flightless, large, nocturnal parrot endemic to New Zealand. It is the only flightless parrot in the world and also it is the world’s heaviest parrot. It has a large grey beak, two short legs, large foot and relatively short wings and a tail. Owl Parrot is the only parrot to have a polygynous lek breeding system. It's lifespan is about 100 years. A Kakapo is about 58- 63cm in length and it weighs about 0.95-4kg. Kakapo has a owl like face. Due to that reason it is called the Owl parrot. Kakapo breeds in summer and autumn. They lay 1-4 eggs usually. It is a herbivorous bird which mostly eats leave, buds, flowers, fern fronds, bark, roots, rhizomes, fruits and seeds. A total of 210 birds were known in June 2020. According to Kakapo's conservation status it is a critically endangered animal. Adult Kakapos are vulnerable to predation by cats and stoats. The little ones can be killed by rats. Kakapo has a very low genetic diversity. Most of the Kakapos are moved to two predator free islands. However it is our duty to protect these animals.
Classification
Scientific name - Strigops habroptilus
Order- Psittaciformes
Family- Strididea
Kingdom- Animalia
Class- Aves
Phylum - Chordata
Genus- Strigops
Distribution
They are Native to New Zealand.
The Kakapo used to be found all over the New Zealand but habitat clearance and introduction of predatory mammals combined to cause them endangered.
Average birds in a flock is 6.
