Catching up with a Kakapo

The kakapo (Strigops habroptila) is a very unique bird, for one thing it is a nocturnal parrot, so just like cats they  are active at night. But don’t think that means they are out  flying around under the night sky because this bird is the only flightless parrot in the world!

Although the kakapo can’t soar in the sky it is a good tree climber, using its wings as a kind of parachute as it jumps from the trees to the ground. So where does this giant flightless night time loving bird live? The kakapo once lived all across New Zealand, but as this bird started to disappear the remaining survivors were moved to islands off the coast of New Zealand where they could be better protected. This species is listed as critically endangered because today there are only around 122 kakapos left in the world!

See the kakapo in action in this video, or learn more about this BIG parrot from The Encyclopedia of Life

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.