Yellow-Crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps)
Kakariki

Size: 25/23cm, 50/40gm (male/female)

Description: Medium sized bright green parrot. Bright yellow crown, bright red forhead. Long tail, black legs. Small patches of crimson either side of rump and blue/purple on some outer flight feathers. Fast flight with rapid wingbeats.

Habitat: Native forest and scrubland.

Status: Protected endemic, locally common but reasonably sparse throughout. Chatham Island subspecies is also uncommon.

Breeding: October - February. Nest in holes in branches and tree trunks. 2-9 eggs incubated by the female for 15-20 days.

Where and how to photograph: The Routeburn track is a good place to start. They aren't stationary for long!

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