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The kea (; ; ''Nestor notabilis'') is a large species of parrot of the superfamily Strigopoidea found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. About long, it is mostly olive-green with a brilliant orange under its wings and has a large, narrow, curved, grey-brown upper beak. The kea is the world's only alpine parrot. Its omnivorous diet includes carrion,〔 but consists mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects. Now uncommon, the kea was once killed for bounty due to concerns by the sheep-farming community that it attacked livestock, especially sheep.〔(keaconservation.co.nz ): Kea Conservation Status.〕 It received full protection in 1986.〔Lindsey, T., Morris, R. (2000) ''Field Guide To New Zealand Wildlife''. Auckland: Harper Collins. (ISBN 1-86950-300-7)〕 The kea nests in burrows or crevices among the roots of trees. Kea are known for their intelligence and curiosity, both vital to their survival in a harsh mountain environment. Kea can solve logical puzzles, such as pushing and pulling things in a certain order to get to food, and will work together to achieve a certain objective.〔(nhnz.tv ), Kea – Mountain Parrot, NHNZ, 1 hour documentary.〕 They have been filmed preparing and using tools.〔(stuff.co.nz )〕 ==Taxonomy and naming== The kea was described by ornithologist John Gould in 1856.〔Gould, J. (1856). On two new species of birds (''Nestor notabilis'' and ''Spatula variegata'') from the collection of Walter Mantell, Esq. ''Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London'', 94–95.〕 Its specific epithet, the Latin term ''notabilis'', means "noteworthy". The common name is from Māori, probably representing the screech of the bird.〔(Ngā manu – birds ), ''Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand''. Updated 1 March 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2010.〕 The term "kea" is both singular and plural. The genus ''Nestor'' contains four species: the New Zealand kaka (''Nestor meridionalis''), the kea (''N. notabilis''), the extinct Norfolk kaka (''N. productus''), and the extinct Chatham kaka (''N. chathamensis''). All four are thought to stem from a "proto-kākā", dwelling in the forests of New Zealand five million years ago. Their closest relative is the kakapo (''Strigops habroptilus'').〔〔〔Juniper, T., Parr, M. (1998) Parrots: A guide to parrots of the world. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press (ISBN 0-300-07453-0)〕 Together, they form the parrot family Strigopidae, an ancient group that split off from all other Psittacidae before their radiation.〔〔〔 A gathering or group of kea is called a circus. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kea」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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