Kakapo population chart. What makes kākāpō so unique? Kākāpō are unusual creatures for many reasons. It is the only parrot to have a polygynous lek breeding system. It is the world's only flightless parrot, the world's heaviest parrot, and also is nocturnal, herbivorous, visibly sexually dimorphic in body size, has a low basal metabolic rate, and does not have male parental care. 02:14 – Adult male 'booming' to attract females. Learn all about the Kakapo parrot - their lifespan, diet, how long they live, their babies, conservation status, how many are left, and more. The kākāpō (Māori: [kaːkaːpɔː]; [3] pl. . : kākāpō; Strigops habroptilus), sometimes known as the owl parrot or owl-faced parrot, is a species of large, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrot of the superfamily Strigopoidea. Kākāpō are large, ground-dwelling, flightless parrots that were once widespread across New Zealand but hunted to near extinction. Aug 11, 2025 · Meet the world's heaviest parrot, the kakapo. It’s native to New Zealand, living in island forests. It's critically endangered and one of New Zealand’s unique treasures. 00:22 – Adult male 'chinging' to attract females. Its plumage is primarily moss-green, mottled with yellow and brown, providing excellent camouflage in its forest habitat. The bird has a large, curved grey beak and strong, scaly grey feet. The kākāpō is a nocturnal, flightless parrot. It is also critically endangered, and the focus of considerable conservation attention. With a face like an owl, a posture like a penguin, and a walk like a duck, the extraordinarily tame and gentle kakapo is one of strangest and rarest birds on Earth. It is endemic to New Zealand. [4] Kākāpō can be up to 64 cm (25 in) long. The kakapo is a large, flightless parrot with a distinctive owl-like face. The kakapo is the world’s only flightless parrot and one of the longest-living birds. And its strangeness doesn't end there. Find out why they can't fly, and learn what makes these parrots unique. Also called the owl parrot, this is a species of large, nocturnal, flightless and ground-dwelling parrot. Kakapo, (Strigops habroptilus), giant flightless nocturnal parrot (family Psittacidae) of New Zealand. The kākāpō (Māori: [kaːkaːpɔː]; [3] pl. Thanks to highly specialised conservation efforts, these unique birds are slowly bouncing back. The kākāpō is a large, nocturnal, flightless, lek-breeding parrot – a real oddity. There are 238 kākāpō alive today. 02:30 – Adult male giving territorial calls (00:43). akcbgj xgjpii gjkdyrhp ofd imyyg vgawmb arhtrs muqzdza uwl ucqzatl