Story: Large forest birds

Kākāpō feeding

Kākāpō feeding

This two-year-old male kākāpō is clinging to the twigs of a poroporo bush as he reaches for ripe fruit. Kākāpō eat a wide variety of foods from at least 25 plant species, but tend to breed only in years when there is a bumper crop of rimu fruit, beech seeds or other nutritious food. They are night foragers – this picture was taken at 11 p.m.

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Department of Conservation
Reference: 10047127
Photograph by Don Merton

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Large forest birds - Kākāpō', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10579/kakapo-feeding (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015, updated 1 Aug 2023