The order Psittaciformes is divided into three families: Cacatuidae (cockatoos), Psittacidae (true parrots), and Strigopidae (New Zealand parrots). For wild New Zealand parrots and parakeets, please return to the home page first, then visit our separate galleries for 100+ Kea alpine parrot photos, 30+ Kaka parrot photos, as well as individual galleries for the New Zealand red-fronted and yellow-fronted parakeets. For Australian parrots and cockatoos, please return to the home page first, then visit our Australian wildlife photos for many parrot species.

Kea photo stock images. The kea parrot (Nestor notabilis) is an alpine parrot found only in New Zealand. A kea bird can satisfy its daily caloric intake typically within an hour, which frees their day up to play and learn via social/group behavior. This social learning ability is not often found in wildlife, and makes the kea a rather intelligent bird. Keas are more often known for their inquisitive and destructive behavior; they seem to rather enjoy tampering with hikers' boots and backpacking gear. New Zealand pictures of the kea in this gallery have all been taken in Fiordland, New Zealand, mostly during the winter. Once locating the keas, they definitely don't seem shy of having their photos taken. Juvenile keas are easily identified by the yellow ring around their eye and nostrils. This yellow coloring fades within 2 years.

All six New Zealand parakeets are endemic. The smallest is the yellow-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps), at just 24 cm. Parakeets are also known as kakariki (little kaka). The Maori saying 'ko te rua porete hai whakarite', meaning 'just like a nest of kakariki', was used to describe a group of people gossiping excitedly. This is because kakariki make a chattering call as they fly and while feeding. In autumn and winter they search for food in flocks, but are more solitary during the breeding season. They live in conifer-broadleaf and beech forest as well as scrub, in both the North and South islands. They mainly feed in the treetops, eating scale insects, leaf miners and aphids, the buds or flowers of k?nuka, r?t? and beech, and beech seeds. They usually nest in holes in old trees. On the mainland the yellow-crowned species are more widespread and common than red-crowned parakeets, but on predator-free islands the red-crowned species dominates.

Currently four subspecies of the Australasian Ringneck are recognized. While interbreeding is common between the subspecies at contact zones, the four subspecies generally reside in distinct geographic zones within Australia. These vibrant and long-tailed parrots are best appreciated in flight, with their wingspan showcasing the beautiful primary and secondary and back feathers.