Nestor productus
The Norfolk Kaka, *Nestor productus*, was a magnificent parrot endemic to Norfolk Island and Philip Island, now tragically extinct since around 1851. Measuring approximately 38 cm (15 inches) in length, this robust parrot displayed a generally dull olive-brown plumage. Its most striking features included a vibrant orange to rufous throat and breast, a dark brown crown, and yellowish-orange under-tail coverts, providing distinctive field marks for identification. Taxonomically, it belonged to ...
This parrot inhabited the subtropical forests of Norfolk Island and the nearby Philip Island, typically found in dense tree cover from sea level to higher elevations.
Its diet primarily consisted of a variety of native fruits, seeds, flowers, and nectar, supplemented by insects and their larvae extracted from wood and foliage.
Historical accounts describe the Norfolk Kaka as remarkably docile and inquisitive, often approaching human settlers without fear. Its daily activity was diurnal, likely spending much of its time foraging in the canopy and undergrowth. Foraging strategies involved using its strong, curved beak to...
The Norfolk Kaka was endemic exclusively to Norfolk Island and its smaller, uninhabited satellite, Philip Island, located in the Pacific Ocean between Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. It was a sedentary, non-migratory species, spending its entire life cycle within the limited confines o...
Extinct
- The Norfolk Kaka was famously tame and fearless, often described as showing no trepidation towards humans, a trait that ultimately contributed to its downfall. - It became extinct remarkably quickly, within about 60 years of the first European settlement on Norfolk Island. - Its closest living ...