Red-crowned Kakariki
Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae
Also called Red-crowned parakeet, Red-fronted parakeet, Red-fronted kakariki, Kakariki, Kiwi parakeet
From New Zealand and its outlying islands, including the Kermadec, Chatham and Auckland Islands. Today most wild birds live on predator-free offshore islands.12
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Feathered; slim, long-tailed parakeet
A bright green parakeet with a red cap across the forehead and crown and a red stripe through the eye. The outer flight feathers are violet-blue, the underparts yellowish green, and the eye is red in adults. The beak is silver-grey with a dark tip.1
Personality what they are like
A busy, inquisitive and very active parakeet that loves to climb and run around. It chatters in soft, musical calls and forms close pair bonds.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High. Needs a large flight for exercise, ideally a walk-in aviary at least 3 m long, with ladders, ropes and swings for climbing.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Provide areas to bathe and plenty of climbing structures. It is not a heavy chewer.1
Home where they are happiest
A walk-in enclosure at least 3 m long with vertical climbing space.1
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A small-seed mix (canary seed, millet, some oats) with limited sunflower, spray millet, green leaves and a complete pellet. Wild birds eat fruit, flowers, seeds, leaves, small invertebrates and even seaweed.1
Company who they like around
Lives in pairs all year and gathers in bigger groups at feeding spots and roosts. It forms lasting pair bonds, so it is usually kept in pairs.12
The story where it all began
Anders Sparrman described the species in 1787. Its Maori name, kakariki, means 'little parrot'. The bird became scarce on New Zealand's mainland, and reintroductions to predator-free islands have gone well. It has long been common in aviculture and breeds readily.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (upgraded from Near Threatened); population decreasing. The World Parrot Trust lists 16,500-35,300 mature individuals (no year given).2
- CITES
- Appendix I.1
- New Zealand Wildlife Act 1953
- Absolutely protected in New Zealand.2
- Taxonomy
- Described by Sparrman in 1787. Several subspecies are recognised.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Red-crowned Kakariki. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Fresh food and waterevery day
- Cage linerevery 2 days
- Full cleanevery week
- Bath offerevery 3 days
- Nails checkevery month
- Beak checkevery month
- Toy rotationevery week
- Out-of-cage timeAbout 2 hours a dayevery day
- Vet check-upevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Red-fronted Parakeet - World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia parrots.orgused for size, weight, lifespan, range, status, population, captive care, diet, fun facts
- Red-crowned parakeet - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for history, taxonomy, length, mutations, legal protection, behaviour
- AnAge: Red-fronted parakeet longevity and life history genomics.senescence.infoused for maximum recorded lifespan, adult weight
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.