The Kakapo: not your average Kiwi

Most people know that New Zealanders got their “Kiwi” nickname from their beloved national symbol, the Kiwi bird. But did you know that there is another iconic bird from that country that is just as important? Its name is actually Kākāpō, which means “owl parrot” and it really is quite unique! Flancrest Enterprises is so passionate about this bird, that they recreated it in LEGO, with posable wings!

Kakapo

What makes the Kakapo so unique is that it’s not like any other parrot in the world. It is large, heavy, flightless, and nocturnal. Their wings and tail are quite short, and they have large feet for climbing and cruising around on the forest floor. In addition, one of their most interesting features is that they don’t form tight bonds. Males engage in “lekking” where they gather together to engage in competitive display and entice females. Males will then mate with multiple females, while the females mate with a single male, and there is no paternal help with the young.

Kakapo

Above all, the most notable thing about the Kākāpō is that it’s critically endangered. There are less than 150 left. Naturally they don’t have any predators, but humans have both destroyed habitats and hunted them to near extinction. Fortunately, there are amazing people working on conservation and recovery programs. If you’re like me and think these special, adorable birds deserve a comeback, learn more and give them your support!

4 comments on “The Kakapo: not your average Kiwi

  1. Jon-Paul Hansen

    Human’s haven’t hunted them for over a century (if at all since post-colonisation), Kakapo got decimated by introduced mammals like stoats, ferrets, cats, rats etc (NZ has no native land mammals).

  2. Håkan

    Also, I recall that kakapo were completely flabbergasted by the idea of predators, and just tended to stay still on the spot and stare at the predators, until they got caught…

    By the way, the math in this sentence doesn’t really add up, unless it’s basically the strongest male building a harem: “Males will then mate with multiple females, while the females mate with a single male, and there is no paternal help with the young.”

  3. Jester

    F F F F F F F F
    \ | / \ / \ | /
    M M M

    Math seems to work out fine. Some males just won’t get to procreate, unless there are more Females than Males.

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