Not to be confused with the Red-crowned Parakeet (Pyrrhura roseifrons) from South America.

The Red-crowned Parakeet, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae, is a small species of parrot from New Zealand. The species was once lumped with several other parrots from New Zealand's outlying islands, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, but these have now been afforded full species status. The species is one of three New Zealand parakeet species known by the Māori name kākāriki.

Red-crowned Parakeets feed on seeds, fruit, berries, nuts and other parts of plants. The Red-crowned Parakeet was once widespread across the islands and mainland of New Zealand. It was extremely abundant during the 1880s and irruptions occurred in a number of locations. It is currently extinct on the mainland of New Zealand and is confined to Stewart Island and a number of offshore islands (such as Kapiti Island) as well as the Kermadec Islands to the north of New Zealand, on the Auckland Islands to the south and the Chatham Islands to the east. The two island populations are sometimes afforded subspecific status. They are considered vulnerable by the IUCN and BirdLife International because the remaining populations are highly fragmented. Their extinction on the mainland was due to their vulnerability to introduced species, particularly stoats, rats and possums.

• Red-crowned Parakeet C. novaezelandiae (Sparrman, 1787)
• New Zealand Red-crowned Parakeet C. novaezelandiae novaezelandiae
• Chatham Island Red-crowned Parakeet C. novaezelandiae chathamensis
• Kermadec Red-crowned Parakeet C. novaezelandiae cyanurus
• Lord Howe Red-crowned Parakeet C. novazelandiae subflavescens†

Aviculture

The Red-crowned Parakeet is common in aviculture and is relatively easy to breed. Several colour mutations are available including, yellow, cinnamon and piebald.

References