Antipodes Island / Green Parakeets

Kakarikis: Red-fronted Parakeets

The Antipodes Island parakeet Cyanoramphus unicolor, also known as the green parakeet, lives only on Antipodes Island - one of New Zealand's remote, bleak and inhospitable subantarctic islands.

It is one of two parrot species found on the islands. Interestingly, hybridisation between the two island Kakarikis has occurred in captivity, but is not known in the wild.

Description:

It is the largest of the Cyanoramphus (kakariki) species, 12 inches or 30 - 31cm long which is 3 cm more than the New Zealand red-crowned parakeet.

The Antipodes Island parakeet is the only member of the kakariki family with all green coloring, and without a colored frontal head band. Its general plumage is green. The breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts are yellowish-green. The outer webs of its flight-feathers are violet-blue. The irises are orange; the feet are grey. It has a pale bluish-grey beak with blackish tip.

Immature birds look like adult.

Habitat & Status

Antipodes Island is a cold, wind-swept, inhospitable volcanic island to the south of New Zealand that is designated as a Nature Reserve. The local flora is limited to two species of tussock grass, ferns and some stunted shrubs.

As there are no trees, this parakeet has adapted to breeding on the ground. Its nest is in a well drained burrow a meter deep in the fibrous peat under tussock grass.

These Parakeets have very little fear of humans and, like all parrots, have a strong natural curiosity.

Whilst there appears to be no immediate danger to the status of these parrots, they are vulnerable to the accidental introduction of predators such as rats or cats to the islands. There are more than 100 Antipodes Island Parakeets in captivity and generally breeding results have been favorable.

Diet / Feeding:

This parakeet eats leaves, buds, grass, and tussock stalks, as well as sometimes feeding on seeds, flowers and berries. However, they will also scavenge carrion of dead penguins and petrels and eat the eggs of seabirds.

The Antipodes Island Parakeet preys on Grey-backed Storm-petrels. It will enter burrows to kill incubating adults, even dig at the entrance if it is too small.

Breeding

The breeding season is between November and January. The Antipodes Island Parakeet nests in underground burrows that are often more than one meter long, in tussock or sedge. In captivity, a clutch usually consists of two to six eggs. In the wild, only one to three fledged young are generally seen with adults. Eggs are incubated for about 26 days. The young probably start breeding at one year.

Calls / Vocalizations

This species is quiet, only letting out a single note when startled.

Training and Behavioral Guidance:

Since this is endangered species, those parakeets that can be bred should either be placed into a well-managed breeding program or released back into their natural habitat. For those that don't make good prospects for breeding or release, please keep the following in mind:

• Pet parrots generally present challenges, such as excessive chewing - especially at certain stages in their life. They do discover their beaks as method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage" and they can generally be somewhat naughty, and it really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. Undisciplined parrots will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. They regard anything in your home as a "toy" that can be explored and chewed on; destroying items that you may hold dear or are simply valuable. Even a young bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance; this becomes even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require rehabilitation.
  
  
  • Web Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training.
  
  
  
  • If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
    
    • the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
      • Stop Biting
      • Perform Tricks &
      • Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
    • and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.

Care and Feeding:

Parrots love to climb and play and need to be provided with a cage that allows them to move around freely and toys to entertain themselves with. Please refer to the following websites for information:

• Sources for Purchasing or Adopting your Companion or Aviary Birds
• Optimal nutrition to keep your bird healthy
• Housing your bird / Fun & Safe Toys
• Bird Training
• Caring for your companion bird

Taxonomy:

Scientific: Cyanoramphus unicolor ... English: Antipodes Green Parakeet ... Dutch: Groene Kakariki, Blauwe Kakariki ... German: Einfarblaufsittich ... French: Perruche verte D'Antipode

CITES II - Endangered Species

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