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Red-fronted Kakarikis

19K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  Fokelly3 
#1 ·
Just a quick guide to one of my favourite species that I randomly decided to type up ;) apologies for any spelling mistakes and such, very tired!

Kakarikis are a small species of parrot which originate from New Zealand. They are otherwise known as red crowned parakeets thought they are not to be confused with the Rosifron conure which is also known as the red crowned parakeet. Their latin name is Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae. There are three subspecies, the Chatham Island red crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae chathamensis), the Kermadec red crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cyanurus) and the Lord Howe red crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae subflavescens) which is now extinct

They are currently listed as a vunerable species. Their decline is mostly due to introduced species, especially rats, possums and stoats. They were once considered extinct on the mainland of New Zealand, however, records show that small groups of them still exist though most are suspected captive birds who have been released or who have escaped their enclosures

The red fronted kakariki is a predominately green bird with bright red plumage on their forehead and crown. They also have a red stripe across their eye and small red patched either side of the lower back. Their under tail coverts are a more yellowish-green. They have red irises, grey feet and a silver bill that ends in a black tip. Their outer flight feathers are a dark blue. Immature birds look similar to adults, though their irises are usually a dark brown or very deep red, have less red on their heads and have slightly shorter tails. They average on length between 27-29cm and have a wingspan of around 5 inches. They come in a variety of colour mutations including (but not limited to) lutino, dominant and recessive pied, cinnamon and buttercup (a yellow bird with black eyes). Mutations such as the lutino look a lot different to the nominate bird. Though they still have a red crown and eye stripe, they are bright yellow with a pink bill and pink feet. Flight feathers are often pale yellow or white. In captivity, mutations tend to be more popular than the nominate bird colour and so various programmes have been set up to conserve the 'normal' red fronted kakariki before they become completely unavailable

Sexing the red fronted kakariki is fairly simple, especially if you have another bird to compare them to. Females are usually quite a lot smaller with a narrower head. Males often have large beaks

Their housing requirements are a bit more tricky that that of other species. Although for every bird, bigger is always better, the rule really does apply to this species. Kakarikis are very high energy psittacines and need a large space to constantly move around in. If you wanted a red fronted kakariki as a companion parrot, you'd have to get the largest cage you possibly could. Even flight cages are fairly inadequate. A very large cage with small bar spacing is perfect so long as the bird can spend a lot of time out of it. The preferable way for keeping kakarikis is that they live in large aviaries. An aviary about 12ft long x 6ft wide x 6ft high would be ideal, though they can live in smaller providing that they are given a wide variety of enrichment

Kakarikis are hard to keep entertained due to their high energy and endless curiosity. A wide variety of toys that they can shred, forage in etc. are appreciated and can help keep the birds occupied while they are in their enclosure. Kakarikis do best with natural enrichment. Natural perches are a must and they enjoy stripping the bark off themselves. Variety is key. In an aviary, leaf litter on the ground becomes a great foraging opportunity. A cardboard tube stuffed with newspaper and some treats hidden amongst the leaf litter would be even more fun. You have to get creative with them otherwise you'll have a bored and unhappy bird

Kakarikis love to climb (especially upside down) so make sure that the top of their cage isn't solid or their aviary is mesh. They usually run around upside down on the tops of cages/aviaries when they're trying to burn off any built up energy. I do not recommend clipping the wings of any bird, but especially not a kakariki. They are extremely agile fliers and can go from running to flying in the blink of an eye (you try returning them to their cage and find out how agile they are then!). They will often fly towards a wall and bail at the last second. They're very good at it, even if it is quite terrifying. They are very fast birds. Clipping them would be unfair and would take this amazing ability away. A high energy bird who can't fly would suffer from a lot of mental and physical issues

Being as they are so curious and high energy, keeping them safe can be quite difficult. They will get into absolutely anything and everything. Make sure cats, dogs etc. cannot get to them while they're out and any plants are removed. As terrible as it may sound, they're probably one of the easiest birds to tread on. When they're whizzing around running and flying, be careful where you step. Female kakarikis will bury themselves under/in furniture so always be aware of where your bird is, just in case anybody sits on them. Luckily, they aren't very destructive

All of that being said, they aren't the most hands on birds to have as companion parrots. If you're wanting a fussy, cuddly bird then a kakariki is not for you. They love to hang out with you and on you but touching them is often a no go

They aren't particularly noisy birds, but they do chatter away quite often. They have a fairly enjoyable call too. I have heard of some kakarikis talking, though not many do. My first picked a few words and phrases up

Kakarikis do not usually need their nails trimming due to the way they forage using their feet. They scratch around like chickens

Feeding any psittacine is tricky to get right, but luckily, kakarikis are fantastic eaters who will often readily try just about anything you can hand to them. Again, variety is key. They enjoy food in all forms (cooked, raw, chopped, grated) and so giving them a daily variety is easy. I do not feed mine chop like I have done with my companion birds. The kakarikis eat things as they are usually and I try to make most days different. They get fresh veg and greens (kakarikis seem to have a personal favourite, carrots!) along with some cooked beans and grains. They occasionally get Harrison's High Potency Super Fine mixed in with their fresh foods. Because they are so high energy, feeding them little and often helps. Portions should be kept small so they do not waste what they're given. As well as the fresh foods, they also get a wide variety of seeds, nuts and dried goodies. I personally like to give them Versele Laga's Large Australian Parakeet for their seed mix and just add other bits and bobs to it afterwards. They also get dried herbs and seaweed on a small plate once a week that they are free to take what they want from. Fresh water at all times is a must and they will bathe all year round. They love getting the bowls as dirty as they can so keeping them clean is vital

They usually have a short lifespan according to most sources, anywhere between 8-10 years old. However, I have known kakarikis live to be anywhere between 15-20 years + with the correct care. I recommend using F10 to clean everything as they can be very messy (especially when they're kicking their food around)

Breeding kakarikis is fairly simple. They require the same box that a breeder would use for a large parakeet or cockatiel with a thin layer of bedding. They will often lay (and successfully hatch) large clutches ranging on average form between 5 to 12 eggs. They hatch between 19-20 days later and within 6 weeks the chicks will have left the nest. The chicks wean quickly and the parents usually attempt to double clutch

Any questions about the species, please feel free to comment below :D
 
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#2 ·
I had a female red-fronted kakariki named Sneak. Sadly, she passed at a young age. I still miss her.

She had a lovely soft cackle. Unlike some kakariki, she was quite affectionate and often hung out on my shoulder, especially during meal times. :)

Our late Newman (male budgie) was in love with her and would loudly call, "Sneak! Sneak-y!" It was a hoot. Of course, Sneak did not reciprocate...poor Newman.
 
#3 ·
I'm sorry to hear she passed away! They're a really awesome and very underrated species for sure
 
#4 ·
Happy New Year to you and your flock. :)

The last few times I've been in pet stores that sell birds, I have noticed that kakariki aren't available any more.
 
#6 ·
Sally, they are lovely birds, aren't they?

Our late Sneak chewed up part of our old kitchen blind and made a spot for herself to relax in. Here's Newman trying to court her.

These pics are old, taken with a disposable camera. :)



Sneak: I warned you!

 
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#7 ·
Are these the parrots that live on an island and will drink sheep's blood?
Sounds morbid lol (especially if I'm wrong and no one knows what the heck I'm talking about) but I was just trying to remember the name of the bird while posting earlier and then I saw this post and the name sounded right. (Reminds me of Zelda)
And I know they don't ONLY drink blood but it stands out because it's odd and kinda creepy lol
If I am wrong does anyone know the name of the bird I'm talking about? And in no way am I saying these birds are evil bloodsuckers lol

((Not meaning to post on super old threads! Didn't notice until I posted that the last reply was 2 years ago lol))
 
#8 ·
I just received a notification via email about this post; I haven't been here for a while myself. Must remedy that and visit more often. :)

I googled about the blood-thirsty parrot, feeling it couldn't be the kakariki. It appears that it's the kea.
 
#9 ·
I knew it was a K but wayy off! Haha
Thanks for clarifying, didn't mean to taint the name of the kakariki! I was pretty sure they weren't kept as pets but it made sense if they're more independent. A birds gotta be pretty self sufficient to decide to become a vampire bird! Lol

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#11 ·
I agree totally to this description of the kakariki I am new to the species previously owned cockatiels and budgies. So I wanted to check my kakarikis (kiwi) behaviour online. I disagree with one thing, this bird is the most loving and cuddly hands on bird I have owned. He is quite young and hasn’t fully developed his flight yet but a short distances he will fly to my finger or my shoulder. One night I left his cage door open and I awoke to find kiwi cuddling next to me on top of my chest probably enjoying the body heat. Also kiwi seems to love apples more than carrots.
 
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