only 2 types is condensed in this subfamily of the parrots: the 47 cm big Kaka (Nestor meridionalis), that on both main-islands of New Zealand as well as on some smaller that is sprained coasts offshore isles and that until Kea (Nestor notabilis) big to 50 cm, that lives on New Zealand exclusively in the mountains of the South-island.
A third type (or subtype of the Kaka), the Norfolk-Kaka (Nestor per-duct) of the Norfolk -, and became the Phillip-island already in the first half of the 19. Century of people wiped out. it had a longer and narrower beak than the two living types.
Shape, way of life Kakas and Keas are quite original parrots; also in its way of life, they probably represent the little specialized predecessors of the other, usually tree-living in parrot-types. its beak is much less strongly bent and more narrowly than the others parrot and doesn't show the otherwise usually typical file-notches either. However, Nestorpapageien are sociable, mainly twilight-active birds just as skillfully and very quickly, who can admittedly fly well, on the ground itself moves.
Kaka (Nestor meridionalis)) Kakas live in the forest-areas of New Zealand's not so mountainous regions; here, they - more colorfully than Keas colored - wander in troops birds on the search of fruits, blooms, insects and their larvae. With its powerful beaks entrinden Kakas rotten trees and digs in the soft wood, all the the Kerbtiere, to expose. Also its nests, that consist 3,2 cm big eggs of 2 to 4 approximately 4,3 ×, erbrüten these parrots in hollowed out trees.
Kakas have wing-upper sides a dark-red plumage, that was liked with the Maoris earlier than jewelry, until on the whitish head (brownish "cheeks") and the brown-olives.
Kea (Nestor notabilis)) Keas, speaks: "Kiahs", is mainly brownish on the other hand and olive feathered, only the wing-undersides and the Bürzel show an easy red-coloring.
Different than its relatives, Keas nest mainly at the ground in myself-dug Erdhöhlen (often at the end of meter-long walks), in rock-niches as well as under tree-roots and in ground-approaches tree-caves. The actual brood-area is padded with all sorts of soft plant-material. Only the females brood approximately for 4 weeks, until the still bare boys slip. Train the young Keas a white Dunenkleid already after few days, however. Until the fully-fledged-development, the female alto-bird looks after the nest-stools mainly, after the abandonment of the nest, the male takes over the sole care, however. Keas - presumably also like the Kakas - live in "polygamy."
Continuance These particular parrots were earlier widespread over wide areas of New Zealand's South-island. The intensive prosecution of these birds through sheep-breeders decimated the continuance strongly. Today, Keas still live in the unapproachable mountain-areas of the island where they still brood even above the timberline and also snow-rich winters survive without big problems. As soon as its food-reasons get snowed in in the high-situations, the parrots hike downhill and do itself amicably (during the summer-months, this much more rarely happens) also at perishing sheep. In the last 100 years, Keas got ready for this additional food-reservoir, favors through the habit of the sheep-holders surely, battle-garbages and perished to let sheep lie around.
That Keas kill healthy sheep and auffressen, like the sheep-breeders believes and why they thought the birds adversely, is regarded as refuted.
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