Yellow-crowned Parakeet

1. Bright emerald green body with a distinctive golden-yellow crown and thin red forehead band.

2. Bluish-purple flash on wings visible during flight.

3. Often spotted high in the forest canopy, moving quickly and chattering noisily.

Yellow-crowned parakeets mainly breed in summer but can nest year-round when food is plentiful. They nest in tree cavities, sometimes as high as 32 metres off the ground, laying 2-9 eggs. Introduced predators like stoats and rats are their biggest threat. These adaptable birds can form large flocks outside the breeding season and are known for their strong flying abilities.

Look for Yellow-crowned parakeets in tall, native forests across most of New Zealand's main islands aside from Northland, north Taranaki and Mt Egmont. They prefer the upper canopy, so focus your search high in the trees. Dawn and dusk are great times to spot them as they forage for food. Listen for their noisy chatter and watch for quick movements in the treetops. Tip: Visit beech forests during seeding years when these parakeets become more abundant and easier to spot.

Known as Kākāriki in te reo Māori, yellow-crowned parakeets were once abundant throughout New Zealand. Their decline due to introduced predators and habitat loss tells a familiar story of New Zealand's unique wildlife.