Story: Large forest birds
The kākāpō is one of New Zealand’s many unusual birds. The world’s largest parrot, it is nocturnal and has a whiskery, owl-like face. Its short rounded wings are useless for flight, and its feathers are soft and sweet-smelling. It is the only parrot to have a lek breeding system – the males congregate in one area and send out booming calls to attract females from far away. Kākāpō breed only once every few years, but are very long-lived.
About this item
Department of Conservation
Reference: 10059610
Photograph by Michael Szarbo
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