Nestor (genus)

Template:Automatic taxobox The genus Nestor is one of the two extant genera of the parrot family Strigopidae.<ref name="revision">Template:Cite journal</ref> Together with the kākāpō, and the extinct parrots in the genus Nelepsittacus, they form the parrot superfamily Strigopoidea. The Nestor's genus contains two extant parrot species from New Zealand and two extinct species from Norfolk Island, Australia and Chatham Island, New Zealand, respectively. All species are large stocky birds with short squarish tails. A defining characteristic of the genus is the tongue, which is tipped with a hair-like fringe.<ref name=forshaw>Template:Cite book</ref> The superficial resemblance of this tongue to that of lorikeets has led some taxonomists to consider the two groups closely related, but DNA evidence shows they are not.<ref name="Wright"/><ref name=tokita>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Classification

All four species in the genus Nestor are thought to stem from a 'proto-kaka', dwelling in the forests of New Zealand 5 million years ago.<ref name="Wright">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=Grant-Mackie>Template:Cite journal</ref> The closest living relative of the genus is the kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus).<ref name="Wright"/><ref name=Grant-Mackie/><ref name=JuniperParr>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=deKloet>de Kloet, R.S.; de Kloet, S.R. (2005). The evolution of the spindlin gene in birds: sequence analysis of an intron of the spindlin W and Z gene reveals four major divisions of the Psittaciformes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 36: 706–721.</ref> Together, they form the Strigopoidea, an ancient group that split off from all other Psittaciformes before their radiation.<ref name="Wright"/><ref name=Grant-Mackie/><ref name=deKloet/>

In 2012 Leo Joseph and collaborators proposed that the genus Nestor should be placed in its own family, Nestoridae.<ref name=joseph>Template:Cite journal</ref> This proposal has not been adopted in lists of the world birds and instead Nestor is placed with the genus Strigops in the family Strigopidae.<ref name=ioc>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Species

There are two surviving species and at least one well documented extinct species in the genus Nestor. Very little is known about the fourth, the Chatham kākā, which may have been conspecific with another kaka species.

• Kea, Nestor notabilis
• Kākā, Nestor meridionalis
  • North Island kākā, Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis
  • South Island kākā, Nestor meridionalis meridionalis
• †Norfolk kākā, Nestor productus (extinct)
• †Chatham kākā, Nestor chathamensis (extinct)

Nestoridae
Common name (binomial name) status	Image	Description	Range and habitat
Kea (Nestor notabilis) Endangered<ref name=IUCN-Kea>Template:Cite iucn Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered.</ref>	File:Kea (Nestor notabilis) -on ground-8.jpg	Template:Convert long. Mostly olive-green with scarlet underwings and rump. Dark-edged feathers. Dark brown beak, iris, legs, and feet. Male has longer bill.<ref name=BirdLife-1410>Template:Cite web</ref>	New Zealand: South Island High-level forests and subalpine scrublands 850–1400 m AMSL.<ref name=Juniper-Parr>Template:Cite book</ref>
South Island kākā (Nestor meridionalis meridionalis) Endangered<ref name=IUCN-Kaka>Template:Cite iucn Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered.</ref>	File:Kaka -Stewart Island-1c.jpg	Similar to the North Island kākā, but slightly smaller, brighter colours, the crown is almost white, and the bill is longer and more arched in males.<ref name=BirdLife-1412>Template:Cite web</ref>	New Zealand: South Island Unbroken tracts of Nothofagus and Podocarpus forests 450–850 m AMSL in summer and 0–550 m in winter.<ref name=Juniper-Parr/>
North Island kākā (Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis) Endangered<ref name=IUCN-Kaka/>	File:Kaka-Parrots.jpg	About Template:Convert long. Mainly olive-brown with dark feather edges. Crimson underwings, rump, and collar. The cheeks are golden/brown. The crown is greyish.<ref name=BirdLife-1412/>	New Zealand: North Island Unbroken tracts of Nothofagus and Podocarpus forests between 450–850 m AMSL in summer and 0–550 m in winter.<ref name=Juniper-Parr/>
Norfolk kākā (†Nestor productus) Extinct by 1851 approx.<ref name="IUCN-Norfolk-Kaka">Template:Cite iucn Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered.</ref>	File:John-Gould-001.jpg	About 38 cm long. Mostly olive-brown upperparts, (reddish-)orange cheeks and throat, straw-coloured breast, thighs, rump and lower abdomen dark orange.<ref name=forshaw/>	Formerly endemic on Norfolk Island and the adjacent Phillip Island<ref name=BirdLife-1411>Template:Cite web</ref> Rocks and trees<ref name=forshaw/>
Chatham kākā (†Nestor chathamensis) Extinct by 1550–1700<ref name="Millener-Chatham-Islands-bird-fauna">Template:Cite journal</ref>	File:Chatham Kaka, Nestor chathamensis, by Hannah Moss 2019.12.16.png	Only known from subfossil bones.<ref name="Millener-Chatham-Islands-bird-fauna"/>	Formerly endemic on Chatham Island of New Zealand Forests<ref name="Millener-Chatham-Islands-bird-fauna"/>

Status

File:Nestoridae-dist.png

Current distribution of extant species, as well as previous distribution of extinct island species.

Of the four species, the Norfolk kaka<ref name="IUCN-Norfolk-Kaka"/><ref name=BirdLife-1411/> and Chatham kaka<ref name=Millener-Chatham-Islands-bird-fauna/> became extinct in recent history. The last known individual of the Norfolk kaka died in captivity in London sometime after 1851,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and only between seven<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 20<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> skins survive. The Chatham kaka became extinct in pre-European times, after Polynesians arrived at the island, between 1550 and 1700, and is only known from subfossil bones.<ref name=Millener-Chatham-Islands-bird-fauna/> The mainland kaka is listed as endangered,<ref name="IUCN-Kaka"/><ref name=BirdLife-1412/> and the kea is listed as vulnerable.<ref name="IUCN-Kea"/><ref name=BirdLife-1410/> Template:Clear