Antipodes parakeet

Antipodes parakeet
A parakeet in Wellington Zoo's breeding program
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Psittaciformes
Family:Psittaculidae
Genus:Cyanoramphus
Species: C. unicolor
Binomial name
Cyanoramphus unicolor
(Lear, 1831)

The Antipodes parakeet or Antipodes Island parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor) is endemic to the Antipodes Islands of New Zealand, one of two parrot species found on the islands, and one of only five ground-dwelling parrots in the world. They are long-living birds that may live up to 10 years of age, but the introduction of mice that compete for food with them is a threat to their survival on the Antipodes Islands. Unusually for parrots, they sometimes prey upon other birds, a trait shared by another New Zealand parrot, the kea.

Taxonomy

Their closest relative is Reischek's parakeet, which also lives on the Antipodes Islands. Other relatives include the Norfolk parakeet, Society parakeet and Chatham parakeet.

Description

It is the largest species in the genus Cyanoramphus at 30 cm (12 in) long.[2] and makes a penetrating kok-kok-kok-kok noise.

Illustration of Antipodes Parakeet by Edward Lear (1812-1888).
Illustration of Antipodes Parakeet by Edward Lear (1812-1888).

Distribution

The Antipodes parakeet is endemic to the Antipodes Islands of New Zealand. They are common on the main Antipodes Island, but are less common on smaller islands in the group such as Bollons Island. They live in very small numbers on Leeward Island, where they only live in a 0.1 square kilometre region of the island. The Antipodes parakeet also live on the 0.1 square kilometre Archway Island as well.

Behaviour

These parakeets eat leaves, buds, grass, and tussock stalks, as well as sometimes feeding on seeds, flowers, and will scavenge dead seabirds. The Antipodes parakeet also preys on grey-backed storm petrels, entering burrows to kill incubating adults, even digging at the entrance if it is too small.[3]

Antipodes parakeets spend much of their time on the ground and in very small groups, in pairs or solitary.

They are quite inquisitive, territorial, probing and mischievous.[4]

Their nest is in a tunnel 2 metres beneath the fibrous peat away from the wind.[5]

Population

The population is stable but conservation status is Vulnerable. The population is 2,000-3,000.[6] Originally entirely restricted to the islands that bear their name there is now a small captive population, founded with less than 20 individuals, on the mainland.


References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2013). "Cyanoramphus unicolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Forshaw, Joseph M. (2006). Parrots of the World; an Identification Guide. Illustrated by Frank Knight. Princeton University Press. Plate 59. ISBN 0-691-09251-6.
  3. ↑ Greene, T. (1999) "Aspects of the ecology of Antipodes Parakeet ( Cyanoramphus unicolor) and Reischek's Parakeet ( C. novaezelandiae hochstetten) on Antipodes Island, October - November 1995" Notornis 46: 301-310
  4. ↑ Department of Conservation (1995) Captive Management Plan Antipodes Island Parakeet http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/science-and-technical/tsop07.pdf
  5. ↑ TerraNature | New Zealand ecology - Antipodes Island parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor) http://terranature.org/parakeetantipodes.htm
  6. ↑ Taylor 1985
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