Some federal rules apply

Kea

Nestor notabilis

Birds › Parrots (Psittaciformes) › Psittacidae (Parrots and parakeets)

The kea ( KEE-ə; Māori: [kɛ.a]; Nestor notabilis) is a species of large parrot in the family Strigopidae that is endemic to the forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand.

Pet trade

Experience: Expert / facility

FamilyParrots and parakeets

Record lifespan47 years

Adult weight30.6 oz

Kept byPet trade

Care guide

Group care guide

Specialist parrots (kea, palm and black cockatoos)

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Mountains and forests of Australasia. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Kept almost entirely by zoos and specialist breeders in large, enriched aviaries.

Sources 120 121 138 139

Diet

Species-specific diets; black cockatoos eat seeds and nuts of native trees.

Sources 120 121 138 139

Health watch

Highly intelligent; poorly suited to cages.

Sources 120 121 138 139

Understanding the animal

About this animal

About 48 cm (19 in) long, it is mostly olive-green, with brilliant orange under its wings, and has a large, narrow, curved, grey-brown upper beak. Its omnivorous diet consists mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects, but also includes carrion.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Kea” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The kea (; Nestor notabilis) is a species of large parrot in the family Strigopidae that is endemic to the forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. About 48 cm long, it is mostly olive-green, with brilliant orange under its wings, and has a large, narrow, curved, grey-brown upper beak. Its omnivorous diet consists mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects, but also includes carrion. It was once killed for bounty due to concern by sheep farmers that it attacked livestock, especially sheep. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Kea live in wooded valleys and southern beech ( Nothofagus ) forests that line sub-alpine scrublands at 600 to 2000 m. — Animal Diversity Web
Social life and communication	Kea perceive visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical stimuli. — Animal Diversity Web
Wild diet	Kea are opportunistic, omnivorous parrots. — Animal Diversity Web
Behavior	Kea are highly intelligent, social birds. — Animal Diversity Web
Reproduction	Kea have a polygynous mating system. — Animal Diversity Web
Lifespan	Kea can live 14.4 years in captivity. — Animal Diversity Web
Appearance and size	Kea are crow-sized parrots, about 48 cm long as adults. — Animal Diversity Web
History and naming	The kea was described by ornithologist John Gould in 1856, from two specimens shown to him by Walter Mantell, who obtained the birds in Murihiku. Eight years earlier, some elderly Māori had told Mantell about the bird, and how it used to visit the coast in winter but had not been seen in recent times. Mantell subsequently investigated and obtained the birds. — Wikipedia (community-edited)

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 63°F (up to 66°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 27°F (down to 24°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	42–50°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	71–75% on average (driest month about 67%)
Rainfall	about 3138 mm a year, spread fairly evenly
Winters	Cool to cold winters (lows around 27°F) in much of its native range. Seasonal slowdown may be relevant, but species-specific biology determines whether brumation or hibernation occurs.

Measured at 94 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

Profile

Researched for this exact species. Sources are listed under In the wild above.

History

The kea was described by ornithologist John Gould in 1856, from two specimens shown to him by Walter Mantell, who obtained the birds in Murihiku. Eight years earlier, some elderly Māori had told Mantell about the bird, and how it used to visit the coast in winter but had not been seen in recent times. Mantell subsequently investigated and obtained the birds.

Data and studies

Researched care notes

Findings checked against veterinary, zoo, welfare, keeper and peer-reviewed sources. Air, basking-surface and water temperatures are kept separate, and where sources disagree both are shown. “Study” notes report what a paper measured, not a universal rule.

Kea (species)

The manual strongly recommends managed conspecific company, considering seasonal and individual social differences.¹
Specific nutrient requirements remain incompletely known; some targets are approximated from poultry and other taxa. Evidence gap.¹
Energy equations are starting estimates. Assess weight, condition, activity, season, and reproductive state.¹

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Maximum recorded lifespan

Highest reported47years

AnAge 16247

Myhrvold et al. 16347

Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter. The AnAge record comes from an animal in human care.

Typical adult weight

Average of sources30.6oz

AnAge 16230.6

Myhrvold et al. 16330.6

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Clutch size

Reported2.8eggs

Myhrvold et al. 1632.8

Average per litter or clutch.

Veterinary & husbandry research

Kea (Nestor notabilis) decide early when to wait in food exchange task Schwing R et al., Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C.: 1983) 2017
Testing social learning in a wild mountain parrot, the kea (Nestor notabilis) Gajdon GK et al., Learning & behavior 2004
Self-care tooling innovation in a disabled kea (Nestor notabilis) Bastos APM et al., Scientific reports 2021
The evolution of the spindlin gene in birds: sequence analysis of an intron of the spindlin W and Z gene reveals four major divisions of the Psittaciformes de Kloet RS et al., Molecular phylogenetics and evolution 2005

Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 9 on PubMed → 170

Federal legal snapshot

Some federal rules apply

CITES Appendix II. Appendix II: international trade needs CITES export permits. CITES doesn't restrict buying a captive-bred animal within the U.S.; keep your purchase records. 173 186
USDA Animal Welfare Act (birds). Since USDA's 2023 bird standards, most commercial bird dealers and exhibitors (and many breeders who sell wholesale) need an Animal Welfare Act license, with some exemptions for small-scale breeders and retail sellers. Keeping your own pet bird doesn't. 184

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Animal Welfare Act standards

Birds (Subpart G). Applies to USDA-licensed or registered dealers, exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) and research facilities. Private pet owners are not covered. These are legal minimums, not best care; the species care on this page goes further.

Indoor air temperature, humidity and any pool or water-feature temperature must suit the species and prevent discomfort or distress. §3.151
Birds may not be housed outdoors unless acclimated to the local temperature and humidity. §3.152
Enclosures must let birds stay dry and clean, give shade for every bird at once (including low-ranking ones), and have floors and perches that protect feet and legs. §3.153
A species-appropriate environment enhancement plan is required, approved by the attending veterinarian: social grouping plus enrichment such as perches, swings, objects to manipulate, varied food and foraging or task-oriented feeding. §3.154
Socially dependent birds, such as clutch-mates, must be housed together unless the veterinarian exempts them; birds may only share space with compatible animals. §3.160
The diet must suit the species, size, age and condition of the bird, with potable water in sufficient quantity; pools and water features must be kept clean. §3.155

Source: 9 CFR Part 3, current eCFR text (USDA APHIS Animal Care).

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Included in our hand-checked list of animals kept as pets, livestock or in zoos
AnAge has a longevity record from an animal in captivity

Sources for this sheet

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources) Peer-reviewed researchCurated, referenced longevity and life-history records for thousands of species; maximum lifespans are often from zoo animals.
Myhrvold et al. (2015). An amniote life-history database. Ecology 96: 3109 Peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed compilation of life-history data for over 21,000 birds, mammals and reptiles.
Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and the CITES Secretariat) Zoo, university or veterinaryThe official database of species listed under CITES.
USFWS International Affairs: CITES Zoo, university or veterinaryFederal agency that issues CITES permits.
9 CFR 2.1: Animal Welfare Act licensing (USDA) Zoo, university or veterinaryWho needs a USDA license to breed, sell or exhibit animals.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of pet birds Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of pet birds Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of zoo animals Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutrition: exotic and zoo animals Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.

Kea

Care guide

Specialist parrots (kea, palm and black cockatoos)

Housing & setup

Diet

Health watch

Understanding the animal

About this animal

In the wild

Native climate (measured)

Profile

History

Data and studies

Researched care notes

Kea (species)

The numbers

Maximum recorded lifespan

Typical adult weight

Clutch size

Veterinary & husbandry research

Sources for this sheet

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