Kea, the Sheep-eating Parrot

October 9, 2009 in Parrots with 1 comments

This post was last updated on January 23, 2024

Do you think this parrot looks cute? Don't let the cute big eyes fool you. This parrot is a killer! The Kea is native to the South Island of New Zealand and is one of only a few parrots in the world that lives in alpine regions. They to used to be killed by farmers for they preyed on livestock, especially sheep. Can you believe this cute parrot would attack a sheep?

The above drawing from 1882 shows a Kea on the back of a sheep. The birds have the reputation for pecking through the skin of a sheep to take fat from around the kidneys. This usually does not immediately kill the animal, but often a fatal blood infection follows. A bounty was placed on the birds that caused a heavy reduction in their numbers, but now they are a protected species. Here is a shocking clip from Animal Planet narrated by David Attenborough. Warning: this video is not for the faint of heart

The kea is the 213th bird species we've cutified as a Birdorable. It's available on customizable t-shirts and gifts. For more cute parrots and parakeets see Meet the Birds.

Comments

Patrick on October 16, 2009 at 2:01 PM wrote:

Wow, I can't believe I've never seen that clip. That's crazy.

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.

Your name (required)

Your email address (required)

Your email address will not be published

Comment (required)

I agree to receive updates and news from Birdorable

You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy. By clicking submit below, you consent to allow Birdorable to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested.

2021 Bonanza Bird #8

Meet the Birdorable Ruddy Turnstone: Nature's Stone-Flipping Expert

November 23, 2021

Today we add a small, dapper shorebird to Birdorable. It's our Ruddy Turnstone!In breeding plumage, as depicted in our Birdorable illustration, Ruddy Turnstones have white underparts, black and rufous upperparts, with black and white detailing around the face and neck....

2015 Bonanza Bird #23: Boat-billed Heron

December 23, 2015

Boat-billed Herons are medium-sized herons found in parts of Central and South America. They live in mangrove forests and feed on a wide variety of food items, including tidal fare like shrimp, insects, and fish. The Boat-billed Heron is named for its large...

2019 Bonanza Bird #1: Yellow-billed Cuckoo

December 3, 2019

It's Bonanza time again here at Birdorable! Today we're kicking off our 11th annual Birdorable Bonanza! For the next 10 days, we'll reveal a new Birdorable bird. Today we introduce a new species of cuckoo to Birdorable: the Yellow-billed Cuckoo! Yellow-billed...

Bird Terms: Wattles, Dewlaps, and Snoods, Oh My!

December 11, 2018

Some birds have fleshy growths hanging or protruding from the head or the neck. When these are a normal part of their anatomy, they are called caruncles. Caruncles are often made of bare skin, though some may have a sparse covering...

Birdorable Blog