North Island Kaka
A species of Kaka and Kea Scientific name : Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis Genus : Kaka and Kea
North Island Kaka, A species of Kaka and Kea
Botanical name: Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis
Genus: Kaka and Kea
Content
Description General Info
Description
The New Zealand kaka is a medium-sized parrot. The forehead and crown are greyish white and the nape is greyish brown. The neck and abdomen are more reddish, while the wings are more brownish. Both sub-species have a strongly patterned brown/green/grey plumage with orange and scarlet flashes under the wings; colour variants which show red to yellow colouration especially on the breast are sometimes found. 
Size
45 cm
Colors
Brown
Black
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
20 years
Feeding Habits
The New Zealand kaka eats fruits, berries, seeds, flowers, buds, nectar, sap, plants and invertebrates. It uses its strong beak to shred the cones of the kauri tree to obtain the seeds. It has a brush tongue with which it feeds on nectar, and it uses its strong beak to dig out the grubs of the huhu beetle and to remove bark to feed on sap.
Habitat
The New Zealand kaka lives in lowland and mid-altitude native forest.
General Info
Behavior
Kaka are mainly arboreal and occupy mid-to-high canopy. Often seen flying across valleys or calling from the top of emergent trees. They are very gregarious and move in large flocks often containing kea where present.
Distribution Area
Its strongholds are currently the offshore reserves of Kapiti Island, Codfish Island and Little Barrier Island. It is breeding rapidly in the mainland island sanctuary at Zealandia with over 800 birds banded since their reintroduction in 2002. From their reintroduction in 2002 the North Island kaka continue to re-colonise Wellington and a recent report shows a significant increase in their numbers over the last 12 years.
Species Status
The New Zealand kaka is considered endangered (CITES II). It has greatly declined across its traditional range as a result of habitat loss, predation by introduced predators such as cats, rats, possums and stoats, and competition from wasps and bees for the honeydew excreted by scale insects. A closely related species, Nestor productus, the Norfolk kaka, became extinct in 1851 for similar reasons.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Parrots Family
Parrots Genus
Kaka and Kea Species
North Island Kaka 
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