Kakarikis: Red-fronted Parakeets
The Kakarikis or New Zealand parakeets are the three most common species of parakeet in the genus Cyanoramphus, family Psittacidae. The birds' Maori name, which is the most commonly used, means "green", in reference to their predominant color.
The three species on mainland New Zealand are:
- the Yellow-crowned Parakeet aka Yellow-fronted Parakeet Cyanoramphus auriceps (New Zealand and neighboring islands) ; Length: 23 cm / 9.2 in; Clutch: 5-9; Incubation days: 19
- the Orange-fronted Parakeet C. malherbi
- Orange-Fronted Parakeet: The Fight For Survival - Very informative video footages about these parakeets in the wild
- the Red-crowned Parakeet or Red-fronted Parakeet, C. novaezelandiae.
All are native to New Zealand, and have become endangered as a result of habitat destruction following European settlement and nest predation by introduced species of mammal. Scarce on the mainland, they have survived well on outlying islands, and also through breeding in captivity since they make good pets. A licence from the New Zealand Department of Conservation is now required to breed them in captivity.
In October 2004, according to the Porirua City News (17 November, page 8), two pairs of Red-crowned Parakeets were seen in the Porirua Scenic Reserve, probably having flown from Kapiti Island.
Mitochondrial DNA analysis has indicated that the Orange-fronted Parakeet is a separate species and not just a colour variation of the Yellow-crowned Parakeet. The Orange-fronted Parakeet is highly endangered, with less than 200 individuals remaining in the North Canterbury region of the South Island. Furthermore, Chatham Island's Yellow-crowned Parakeet and the red-crowned populations of New Caledonia, Norfolk Island and the subantarctic islands have been determined to be distinct species (Boon et al., 2001).
There is one remaining subspecies of the Red-crowned Parakeet, the Chatham Island Red-crowned Parakeet, C. n. chathamensis, all other forms having been split off (see also Scofield, 2005).
Aviculture
The red-crowned parakeets are common in aviculture and they are relatively easy to breed. They lay about 3 to 5 white eggs in a nesting box. A cinnamon colour variety and a pied variety are available
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org
Taxonomy:
Class: Aves ... Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae ... Subfamily: Psittacinae
Genus: Scientific: Cyanoramphus ... English: Red-fronted Parakeets ... Dutch: Kakarikis ... German: Laufsittiche ... French: Kakariki
Sub-species:
Alpine Parakeets or Orange-fronted Parakeet:
A new color variation of the Yellow-fronted Parakeet
Distribution: South Island of New Zealand
Description: Paler plumage than Yellow-fronted, without yellowish tinge; band to forehead orange; crown pale yellow; patches to both sides of lower back orange ... Length: 20 - 23 cm (8 - 9 ins)
Species: Scientific: Cyanoramphus auriceps malherbi aka Cyanoramphus malherbi ... English: Orange-fronted Parakeet, Alpine Parakeet ... Dutch: Oranjevoorhoofdkakariki ... German: Orangestirn Laufsittich, Alpensittich ... French: Perruche front d'orange ... CITES I - Protected Species
Related Websites: Doc.govs.nz ... Orange-fronted Recovery Update
Antipodes Island / Green Parakeets (Cyanoramphus unicolor)
Antipodes Red-Fronted Parakeets:
Distribution: Antipodes Island
Description: Same as Red-fronted, but generally with much more yellowish plumage; forehead, crown and body patches orange-red; flight-feathers only faint blue; larger ... Length: 30 cm (12 ins), wing length 130 - 150 mm (5 - 6 ins)
Species Scientific: Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae hochstetteri ... English: Antipodes Red-fronted Parakeet ... Dutch: Antipodes Roodvoorhoofdkakariki ... German: Antipoden Ziegensittich ... French: Perruche grande d'ile Antipode ... CITES I - Protected Species
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots
Black-fronted Parakeets, Tahiti Parakeets:
Distribution: Tahiti, Society Island, now extinct
Description: Generally green, bluish to breast, abdomen, under tail-coverts and tail; forehead black; lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird's head) and stripe across eye are scarlet-red; lower back red; outer webs of flight-feathers violet-blue; iris probably orange; feet greyish-brown; bill pale bluish-grey with blackish tip. Immatures with bluish-black forehead, brownish head and chestnut-brown eye-stripe; breast and abdomen greyish-green; back feathers edged brownish ... Length: 25 cm (10 ins)
Species: Scientific: Cyanoramphus zealandicus ... English: Black-fronted Parakeet, Tahiti Parakeet ... Dutch: Zwartvoorhoofdkakariki, Tahitiaanse Kakariki ... German: Tahiti Laufsittich ... French: Perruche à front noir ... CITES Status - Extinct
Related Web Resources: Lexicon of Parrots
Brown-headed Parakeets: Please go to Society Kakarikis
Distribution: Chatham Island
Description: Same as Red-fronted, but with bright emerald green facial area; abdomen slightly more yellowish; feet grey to dark-grey ... Length: 28 cm (11 ins), wing length 125-140 mm (5 - 5.5 ins)
Species Scientific: Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae chatamensis ... English: Chatham Red-fronted Parakeet ... Dutch: Chatham Roodvoorhoofdkakariki ... German: Chatham Ziegensittich ... French: Perruche d'ile Chatham ... CITES I - Protected Species
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll to no. 3 - click on link to view photo.)
Forbe's Yellow-fronted Parakeets:
Distribution: Chatham Island
Description: Same as Yellow-fronted, but with narrow red band to forehead not extending to eye; plumage to underparts more yellowish; outer webs to flight-feathers greenish-blue; larger ... Length: 25 cm (10 ins)
Species Cyanoramphus auriceps forbesi ... English: Forbe's Yellow-fronted Parakeet ... Dutch: Forbe's Geelvoorhoofdkakariki ... German: Chatham Springsittich, Forbe's Springsittich ... French: Perruche de Forbes ... CITES I - Protected Species
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 2 - click on link to view photo.)
Kermadec Red-fronted Parakeets:
Distribution: Kermadec Islands
Description: The same as Red-fronted, but with much less yellowish plumage, especially to breast and abdomen; flight-feathers deeper blue; tail upperside blue-green; larger ... Length: 29 cm (11.5 ins), wing length 132-147 mm (5 - 5.75 ins)
Species: Scientific: Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cyanurus ... English: Kermadec Red-fronted Parakeet ... Dutch: Kermadec Roodvoorhoofdkakariki ... German: Kermadec Ziegensittich ... French: Perruche d'ile Kermadec ... CITES I - Protected Species
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll to no. 2 - click on link to view photo.)
Lord Howe Red-fronted Parakeets:
Distribution: Lord Howe Island, now extinct
Description: As Red-fronted, but much more yellowish plumage, especially to cheeks; red to crown less extensive; much larger ... Length: 32 cm (12.5 ins), wing length 147 - 149 mm (5.75 - 6 ins)
Species: Scientific: Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae subflavescens ... English: Lord Howe Red-fronted Parakeet ... Dutch: Lord Howe Roodvoorhoofdkakariki ... German: Lord Howe Ziegensittich ... French: Perruche d'ile Lord Howe ... CITES Status - Extinct
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll to no. 7 - click on link to view photo.)
Macquarie Red-fronted Parakeets:
Distribution: Macquari Island, now extinct ... Length: 30 cm (12 ins), wing length 142 - 145 mm (5.5 - 5.75 ins)
Description: The same as Red-fronted, but with paler and more yellowish plumage; blue to flight-feathers paler and washed with green; larger.
Species: Scientific: Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae erythrotis ... English: Macquarie Red-fronted Parakeet ... Dutch: Macquarie Roodvoorhoofdkakariki ... German: Macquarie Ziegensittich ... French: Perruche d'ile Macquarie ... CITES Status - Extinct
Related Websites:Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll to no. 5 - click on link to view photo.)
New Caledonian Red-fronted Parakeets:
Distribution: New Caledonia
Description: Same as Red-fronted, but sides of head, breast and abdomen much more yellow; red to crown paler and brighter; smaller ... Length: 6 cm (10.25 ins), wing length 114 - 135 mm (4.5 - 5.25 ins)
Species: Scientific: Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae saisseti ... English: New Caledonian Red-fronted Parakeet ... Dutch: Nieuwcaledonische Roodvoorhoofdkakariki ... German: Neukaledonien Ziegensittich ... French: Perruche de la Nouvelle Caledonia ... CITES I - Protected Species
Distribution: Norfolk Island
Description: Same as Red-fronted, but larger - they average 12 inches or 31 cm in length; their wing length is 5 - 6 inches or (130 - 150 mm
Species: Scientific: Cyanoramphus cookii aka Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cookii ... English: Norfolk Parakeet ... Dutch: Norfolk Eiland Kakariki ... German: Norfolk Ziegensittich ... French: Perruche de Cock ... CITES I - Protected Species
Red-fronted Kakarikis aka Red-crowned Parakeets:
Distribution: New Zealand, Auckland Islands, neighboring islands
Description: General plumage green; yellowish-green to breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts; forehead, crown and stripe extending to behind eye red; red patch to both sides of lower back; outer webs of flight-feathers violet-blue; iris red; feet grey; bill pale bluish-grey with blackish tip. Immatures as adults, but with less red to head and reddish-brown iris, tail shorter ... Length: 27 - 29 cm cm (10.5 - 11.6 ins), wing length 125-139 mm (5 - 5.5 ins)
Breeding / Nesting: Average clutch consists of 5 - 9 eggs. Average incubation is 20 days.
Species: Scientific: Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae novaezelandiae ... English: Red-fronted Parakeet ... Dutch: Roodvoorhoofdkakariki ... German: Ziegensittich ... French: Perruche à front rouge ... CITES I - Protected Species
Related Websites: New Zealand Parrots
Tahiti Parakeets: Please go to Black-fronted Parakeets
Society Kakarikis (Ulietanus):
Distribution: Raiatea, Society Island, now extinct
Description: Blackish-brown head, paler on nape; back and wings brown; lower back and tail-coverts brownish-red; under wing-coverts and outer webs to flight-feathers grey-blue; breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts olive-yellow; middle tail-feathers olive-brownish, oter bluish-grey; iris probably orange; feet greyish-brown; bill pale bluish-grey, blackish at tip ... Length: 25 cm (10 ins)
Species: Scientific: Cyanoramphus ulietanus ... English: Brown-headed Parakeet, Society Parakeet ... Dutch: Bruinkopkakariki ... German: Braunkopflaufsittich ... French: Perruche à tête brune ... CITES Status - Extinct
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots ... Are YOU Thinking to Get a Brown-headed Parrot? - Midori Takaki ... Lala, The Princess (brownheaded parrot) - Midori Takaki
Yellow-fronted Parakeets aka Yellow-crowned Parakeets:
Distribution: South and North Islands of New Zealand; some small off-shore islands as well as Auckland Islands, Three KIngs, Little Barrier, Kapiti and Stewart.
Description: Green; yellowish-green to breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts; narrow red band to forehead extends to eyes; crown gold-yellow; red patch to both sides of lower back; outer webs of flight-feathers violet-blue; iris orange-red; feet grey; bill pale bluish-grey with blackish tip.Immatures as adult, but with duller forehead marking and pale reddish-brown iris. ... Length: 23 cm (9 ins)
Species: Scientific: Cyanoramphus auriceps auriceps ... English: Yellow-fronted Parakeet, Yellow-crowned Parakeet ... Dutch: Geelvoorhoofdkakariki, Goudkopkakariki ... German: Springsittich ... French: Perruche à front jaune ... CITES I - Protected Species
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots ... New Zealand Parrots
Relevant Web Resources: Talking Ability (compared to other species) ...Kakarikis in Captivity ... New Zealand Parrots - Part 2
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