Reischek's Parakeet

Reischek’s parakeet is an emerald-green endemic parrot with a bright red crown, confined to the Antipodes Islands. It is smaller and red-crowned compared with the larger uniformly green Antipodes Island parakeet, and more yellow-green than mainland red-crowned kākāriki.

Birds occur across the Antipodes, Bollons and nearby satellite islands, especially in low coastal vegetation. Birds forage on leaves, flowers, berries, seeds and a few invertebrates and nest in tunnels beneath tussock or fern clumps.

Reischek’s parakeet is At Risk — Naturally Uncommon (NZ Threat Classification). Mammal invasion is the greatest long-term threat to its 2,000 ha range. The Antipodes group is a strict nature reserve; sightings are limited to authorised expeditions.