| Antipodes parakeet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A parakeet at Ringdove Bay on Antipodes Island. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Genus: | Cyanoramphus |
| Species: | C. unicolor |
| Binomial name | |
| Cyanoramphus unicolor (Lear, 1831) | |
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Native range | |
TheAntipodes parakeet orAntipodes Island parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor) is a parrot in the familyPsittaculidae that is endemic to theAntipodes Islands of New Zealand. It is one of two parrot species found on the islands, and one of only five ground-dwelling parrots in the world. They are long-living birds that may live up to 10 years of age, but the introduction of mice that compete with them for food was a threat to their survival on the Antipodes Islands until the mice were successfully eradicated from the Islands in 2016 (confirmed 2018).[3] Unusually for parrots, they sometimes prey upon other birds, a trait shared by another New Zealand parrot, thekea.
The Antipodes parakeet was depicted in 1831 by English artistEdward Lear in hisIllustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots. Lear used the common name "uniform parakeet" and coined thebinomial namePlatycercus unicolor.[4] The species is now placed in thegenusCyanoramphus that was introduced in 1854 by French ornithologistCharles Lucien Bonaparte.[5][6]
Its closest relative isReischek's parakeet, which also lives on the Antipodes Islands. Other relatives include theNorfolk parakeet,Society parakeet, andChatham Islands parakeet.
It is the largest species in thegenusCyanoramphus at 30 cm (12 in) long.[7] and makes a penetratingkok-kok-kok-kok noise.
The Antipodes parakeet is endemic to theAntipodes Islands of New Zealand. They are common on the main Antipodes Island, but are less common on smaller islands in the group such asBollons Island. They live in very small numbers on Leeward Island, where they only live in a 0.1 km2 (0.039 sq mi) region of the island. The Antipodes parakeet lives on the 0.1 km2 (0.039 sq mi) Archway Island, as well.
These parakeets eat leaves, buds, grass, and tussock stalks, as well as sometimes feeding on seeds and flowers, and sometimes scavenge deadseabirds. The Antipodes parakeet alsopreys ongrey-backed storm petrels, entering burrows to kill incubating adults, even digging at the entrance if it is too small.[8]
Antipodes parakeets spend much of their time on the ground and in very small groups, in pairs, or alone.
They are quite inquisitive, territorial, probing, and mischievous.[9]
Their nest is in a tunnel 2 m beneath fibrous peat away from the wind.[10]
Their population is stable, but their conservation status is vulnerable. The population is 2,000-3,000.[1]Originally entirely restricted to the islands that bear their name, a small captive population, founded with less than 20 individuals, now inhabits the mainland.
