Information on the Kokako
The Kokako is a forest bird which is endangered, endemic to New Zealand and arguably the most beautiful singer in the bush.
It has pale grey plumage, bright blue wattles (flaps of skin at the base of the beak), a small black face mask and is an average of 38cm in length. Males and females appear very It is almost flightless, it bounds up branches with it's strong legs and feebly flutters from branch to branch in the tree tops.
They used to be widespread over New Zealand but due to the introduction of new mammals (eg. possums, rats and stoats...) and the de-forestation by settlers the Kokako's population rapidly decreased and the South Island species was completely wiped out and there are under 1400 of the North Island Kokako remaining. They live in dense bush generally near the center of the North Island mainly in Bay of Plenty forests and the Waitakere Ranges.
Kokako's have life long mates and together they mutually defend permanent territories. The female builds the nest, they lay 1-3 eggs and then the female incubates the eggs for around 55 days. While the female is incubating the eggs the male feeds the female, they fledge the chicks together for 30-35 days.
It has pale grey plumage, bright blue wattles (flaps of skin at the base of the beak), a small black face mask and is an average of 38cm in length. Males and females appear very It is almost flightless, it bounds up branches with it's strong legs and feebly flutters from branch to branch in the tree tops.
They used to be widespread over New Zealand but due to the introduction of new mammals (eg. possums, rats and stoats...) and the de-forestation by settlers the Kokako's population rapidly decreased and the South Island species was completely wiped out and there are under 1400 of the North Island Kokako remaining. They live in dense bush generally near the center of the North Island mainly in Bay of Plenty forests and the Waitakere Ranges.
Kokako's have life long mates and together they mutually defend permanent territories. The female builds the nest, they lay 1-3 eggs and then the female incubates the eggs for around 55 days. While the female is incubating the eggs the male feeds the female, they fledge the chicks together for 30-35 days.