Red-crowned Parakeet

Kākāriki is a bright-green endemic parakeet with a broad crimson crown and red patches behind the eye. The entire forehead and crown are red; yellow-crowned kākāriki has a yellow crown with only a narrow red frontal band.

It survives mainly on predator-free offshore islands from the Kermadecs to the subantarctic region, with a few managed mainland populations. Birds forage on seeds, fruit, flowers and invertebrates from canopy to ground and nest in tree or rock cavities.

Red-crowned parakeet is At Risk — Relict (NZ Threat Classification). Rats, stoats and cats caused its disappearance from most of mainland New Zealand. Tiritiri Matangi, Kāpiti, Ulva and other predator-free islands provide good viewing.