Kakapo

Strigops habroptilus Gray, GR, 1845

Kakapo, Strigops habroptilus, is a New Zealand parrot now breeding mainly on Codfish Island, also known as Whenua Hou, west of Stewart Island; it once bred on the North, South and Stewart islands. It is the only flightless parrot and the only one that uses a polygynous lek system for breeding. The species is nocturnal and ground-dwelling, with a distinct facial disc, forward-facing eyes, a large grey bill, short wings and a short tail. It was described by Gray in 1845 and belongs to the family Strigopidae.

Order

Psittaciformes

Family

Strigopidae — New Zealand Parrots

Breeding range

Australasia: now mostly Codfish I. (=Whenua Hou, w of Stewart I.); formerly North, South and Stewart is. (New Zealand)