PSITTACIFORMES Parrots

The information presented here is identical to that contained in the fifth edition of the Checklist of the Birds of New Zealand (Checklist Committee 2022). To access a pdf version of the Checklist click here.

Symbols
➤ Indicates a species (cf. subspecies)
* Indicates a species (or other taxon) introduced to the New Zealand region
† Indicates an extinct taxon

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Order PSITTACIFORMES: Cockatoos, Parrots, and Parakeets

Joseph et al. (2012) synthesised molecular, palaeontological, and morphological evidence to produce a consensus classification, with formalised nomenclature, that included three superfamilies of parrots: Strigopoidea (kākāpō, kākā, and kea), Cacatuoidea (cockatoos), and Psittacoidea (parrots), and six parrot families: Strigopidae, Nestoridae, Cacatuidae, Psittacidae, Psittrichasidae, and Psittaculidae. This system was amended by Cracraft (2013), who recognised four families (Strigopidae, Cacatuidae, Psittacidae, and Psittaculidae) and ten subfamilies of parrots. This included treating Strigopinae (kākāpō) and Nestorinae (kākā and kea) as subfamilies of Strigopidae (see also T. Wright et al. 2008, who demonstrated that the split between Strigops and Nestor was too recent for these genera to be placed in separate families). This is consistent with the classification used in the 2010 New Zealand checklist. Joseph et al. (2012) and Cracraft (2013) placed the parakeet genera Cyanoramphus and Platycercus in family Psittaculidae, with Cracraft recommending their placement in subfamily Loriinae. These genera were placed in Psittacidae in the 2010 checklist. Cracraft’s (2013) modification of Joseph et al.’s (2012) classification system has been followed by most global bird checklists, including Dickinson & Remsen (2013), Clements et al. (2019), and F. Gill et al. (2021)F. Gill et al. (2021), and is adopted here.

Family STRIGOPIDAE Bonaparte: Kākāpō, and Kākā and Kea

Subfamily STRIGOPINAE Bonaparte: Kākāpo

Strigopidae Bonaparte, 1849: Consp. Syst. Ornith.: 1 – Type genus Strigops G.R. Gray, 1845.

Checklist Committee (2010) attributed Strigopinae to G.R. Gray (1848) in error. The correct author of Strigopidae and Strigopinae is Bonaparte (1849), as recognised by Worthy et al. (2011b) and Joseph et al. (2012).

Genus Strigops G.R. Gray

Strigops G.R. Gray, 1845: Gen. Birds 2: 426 – Type species (by monotypy) Strigops habroptilus G.R. Gray.

Strigopsis Bonaparte, 1849: Consp. Gen. Avium 1: 8. Unnecessary nomen novum for Strigops G.R. Gray, 1845.

Stringopsis van der Hoeven, 1855: Handl. Dierk. (2nd edition) 2: 692. Unjustified emendation.

Stringops Finsch, 1867: Papageien. 1: 233, 241. Unjustified emendation.

➤ Strigops habroptila G.R. Gray
Kākāpō | Kakapo

Strigops habroptilus G.R. Gray, 1845: Gen. Birds 2: 427 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland.

Strigopsis habroptilus (G.R. Gray); Bonaparte 1849, Consp. Gen. Avium 1: 8.

Strigops greyii G.R. Gray, 1862: Ibis 4: 230 – South Island.

Stringops (Strigops) habroptilus (G.R. Gray); Potts 1871, Trans. N.Z. Inst. 3: 90.

Stringops habroptilus G.R. Gray; Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 15.

Stringops Greyi G.R. Gray; Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 15. Unjustified emendation.

Strigops habroptilus habroptilus G.R. Gray; Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 427.

Strigops habroptilus innominatus Mathews & Iredale, 1913: Ibis 1 (10th series): 427 – North Island.

Strigops habroptilus parsonsi Mathews & Iredale, 1913: Ibis 1 (10th series): 427 – north-west South Island.

Strigops habroptila G.R. Gray; Dickinson 2003, Complete Checklist Birds World: 181. Emendation.

New Zealand; historical records and Holocene bone deposits show a distribution at all altitudes throughout North and South Islands, and Stewart Island / Rakiura. Its range shrank considerably before European settlement, particularly in the North Island, but it remained fairly widespread, and even abundant, in certain localities in the south and west South Island until c. 1900. After 1980 the only remaining populations, in Fiordland and Stewart Island / Rakiura, declined severely, and all remaining birds were transferred to predator-free locations, including Codfish / Whenua Hou and Hauturu / Little Barrier Islands (Clout & Merton 1998). Now considered extinct in the wild. Reports of bones from the Chatham Islands are considered incorrect (Millener 1999). Genus Strigops was determined to be feminine by ICZN (1955: 262), hence the amended spelling of the original species name.

Subfamily NESTORINAE Bonaparte: Kākā and Kea

Nestorinae Bonaparte, 1849: Consp. Syst. Ornith.: 1 – Type genus Nestor Lesson, 1830.

Genus Nestor Lesson

Nestor Lesson, 1830: Traité d’Ornith. 3: 190 – Type species (by monotypy) Nestor novaezelandiae Lesson, 1830 = Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin).

Centrourus Swainson, 1837: Cabinet Cyclopaedia 92(2): 303 – Type species (by monotypy) Psittacus australis Shaw, 1792 = Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin).

Centrurus Strickland, 1841: Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., London 7: 34. Unjustified emendation.

Doreenia Mathews, 1930: Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 50: 41 – Type species (by original designation) Nestor notabilis Gould.

Endemic to the New Zealand region, plus Norfolk Island. The last known Norfolk Island kaka (N. productus (Gould, 1836)) died in captivity in about 1851 (Tennyson & Martinson 2007).

➤ Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin)
Kākā | Kaka

We retain the North Island and South Island kaka subspecies, contrary to the recommendations in Sainsbury et al. (2006) and Dussex et al. (2015), on the basis that they did not adequately explore the described published morphological differences for these taxa, and that the haplotype patterns in the mitochondrial data are not sufficient to evaluate evolutionary history. We consider that further research is required to better understand the relationships.

Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis Lorenz
North Island Kaka

Nestor septentrionalis Lorenz, 1896: Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 46: 198 – North Island.

Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis Lorenz; Checklist Committee 1953, Checklist N.Z. Birds: 53.

North Island, from Mangamuka (Northland) to Rimutaka and Aorangi Ranges, and on offshore islands (Hen and Chickens, Great Barrier / Aotea, Hauturu / Little Barrier, Fanal / Motukino, Rakitu / Arid, Mayor / Tuhua, and Kapiti Islands) (Higgins 1999; C. Robertson et al. 2007). Straggles to isolated bush patches, sometimes to towns and cities and to other islands (e.g. Poor Knights). Common in Wellington city following 2002–07 re-introduction to Zealandia / Karori Sanctuary (Miskelly 2018a). Common in Holocene deposits throughout the North Island; common in middens, but seldom in large numbers.

Nestor meridionalis meridionalis (Gmelin)
South Island Kaka

Psittacus meridionalis Gmelin, 1788: Syst. Nat., 13th edition 1(1): 333. Based on the “Southern Brown Parrot” of Latham 1781, Gen. Synop. Birds 1: 264 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland.

Psittacus nestor Latham, 1790: Index Ornith. 1: 110 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland.

Psittacus australis Shaw, 1792: Mus. Leverianum: 87 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland.

Psittacus hypopolius J.R. Forster, 1794: Mag. merkwürdigen neuen Reise Beschreibungen 11(3): 313, footnote – New Zealand and Norfolk Island, restricted to Dusky Sound, Fiordland (fide Steinheimer et al. 2008, Notornis 55(1): 35).

Psittacus (Kakadoe) nestor Latham; Kuhl 1820, Consp. Psittacorum: 86.

Nestor Novae Zelandiae Lesson, 1830: Traité d’Ornith. 3: 191 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland.

Nestor hypopolius Wagler, 1832: Abh. Kl. Bayer Akad. Wiss. 1: 505, 696 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland. Junior secondary homonym of Psittacus hypopolius J.R. Forster, 1794.

Centrourus australis (Shaw); Swainson 1837, Cabinet Cyclopaedia 92(2): 303.

Psittacus hypopolius J.R. Forster, 1844: in M.H.C. Lichtenstein, Descrip. Animalium: 72 – South Island. Junior primary homonym of Psittacus hypopolius J.R. Forster, 1794.

Nestor australis (Shaw); G.R. Gray 1845, Gen. Birds 2: 426.

Nestor Hypopolius (J.R. Forster); Bonaparte 1854, Revue Mag. Zool. 6 (2nd series): 155.

Nestor Novae-Zelandiae Lesson; Bonaparte 1854, Revue Mag. Zool. 6 (2nd series): 155.

Nestor Esslingii Souancé, 1856: Revue Mag. Zool. 8 (2nd series): 223 – “Philips Island”, probably error for Marlborough District (fide Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 424).

Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin); G.R. Gray, 1862: Ibis 4: 229.

Nestor esslingii Souancé; G.R. Gray, 1862: Ibis 4: 230.

Nestor superbus Buller, 1865: Essay N.Z. Ornith.: 11 – alpine districts of the South Island.

Nestor montanus Finsch, 1868: Journ. für Ornith. 16: 242 – alpine heights of the South Island.

Nestor occidentalis Buller, 1869: Ibis 5 (new series): 40 – Westland.

Nestor meridionalis var. esslingii Souancé; Buller 1888 (Mar.), History of the Birds of N.Z., 2nd edition 1(part 4): 152.

Nestor esslingi Souancé; Buller 1906, Suppl. Birds N.Z. 2: 77. Unjustified emendation.

Nestor meridionalis meridionalis (Gmelin); Checklist Committee 1953, Checklist N.Z. Birds: 54.

South Island, Stewart Island / Rakiura, and some offshore islands (e.g. D’Urville, Nukuwaiata, Bench, Codfish / Whenua Hou, and Taukihepa / Big South Cape Islands). Chiefly west of the main divide and in Marlborough. Extends into Canterbury at lower mountain passes (e.g. Arthur’s Pass); also throughout the Southern Lakes District (Higgins 1999; C. Robertson et al. 2007). An occasional straggler to coastal Canterbury and Otago. Common in Holocene deposits throughout the South Island (Dawson 1952).

➤ †Nestor chathamensis Wood, Mitchell, Scofield & Tennyson
Chatham Island Kaka

Nestor notabilis Gould; Forbes 1892, Trans. N.Z. Inst. 24: 189. In part.

Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin); Forbes, 1893: Ibis 5 (6th series): 544. In part.

Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin); Dawson 1959, Notornis 8: 114. In part.

Nestor ?n. sp. Tennyson & Millener 1994: Notornis 41 (supp.): 165.

Kaka (?sp.n.) Tennyson & Millener 1994: Notornis 41 (supp.): 172.

Nestor spp. Millener 1999: Smithsonian Contrib. Paleobiology 89: 97.

Nestor “Chatham Islands” Holdaway et al. 2001: New Zealand Journ. Zool. 28: 135.

Nestor chathamensis Wood, Mitchell, Scofield & Tennyson, 2014: Zool. Journ. Linn. Soc. 172: 191 – Chatham Island.

Known only from Holocene bone deposits on the Chatham Islands (J. Wood et al. 2014).

➤ Nestor notabilis Gould
Kea

Nestor notabilis Gould, 1856 (26 Apr.): The Athenaeum 1487: 524 – “the New Zeland [sic] group of islands”, restricted to South Island (fide Bruce & McAllan 1990, Boll. Region. Sci. Natur. Torino 8(2): 469).

Doreenia notabilis (Gould); Mathews 1930, Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 50: 41.

Nestor notabilis Gould; Checklist Committee 1990, Checklist Birds N.Z.: 176.

South Island. High country from Fiordland to Nelson and Marlborough (C. Robertson et al. 2007). Breeds chiefly above 760 m, coming down to the West Coast after heavy snow (C. Clarke 1970). Holocene remains recorded rarely at some South Island deposits and abundantly at others (e.g. Oparara) – misidentification is a problem (see Worthy & Mildenhall 1989). One Pleistocene and several Holocene records from North Island deposits (Holdaway & Worthy 1993; Tennyson, Easton et al. 2014).

Family *CACATUIDAE G.R. Gray: Cockatoos

Subfamily *CACATUINAE G.R. Gray: Cockatoos

Cacatuidae G.R. Gray, 1840: List Gen. Birds (1st edition): 53 – Type genus Cacatua Vieillot, 1817.

Genus *Cacatua Vieillot

Cacatua Vieillot, 1817: Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat., nouv. éd. 17: 6 – Type species (by subsequent designation) Cacatua cristata Vieillot, 1817 = Cacatua alba (Statius Müller, 1776).

➤ *Cacatua galerita (Latham)
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Psittacus galeritus Latham, 1790: Index Ornith. 1: 109 – Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia.

Kakatoe galerita (Latham) subspecies; Checklist Committee 1953, Checklist N.Z. Birds: 54.

Cacatua galerita (Latham); Checklist Committee 1970, Annot. Checklist Birds N.Z.: 57.

North, east, and south-east Australia, around Perth in Western Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and islands from the Moluccas to the Bismarck and Louisiade Archipelagos (Higgins 1999). Three subspecies. Probably introduced to New Zealand by escape from captivity (Thomson 1922), but possibly self-introduced (e.g. Martin & Bartlett 1963; Waller 1959). At least eight populations established, including Waitakere, Miranda, lower Waikato–Raglan area, Turakina Valley (near Whanganui, ranging to Hunterville and Marton), Paraparaumu, Wainuiomata, Banks Peninsula, and Catlins (C. Robertson et al. 2007). The subspecies of the New Zealand birds has not been identified.

Genus *Eolophus Bonaparte

Eolophus Bonaparte, 1854: Revue Mag. Zool. 6 (2nd series): 155 – Type species (by monotypy) Cacatua rosea Vieillot = Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot).

➤ *Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot)
Galah

Cacatua roseicapilla Vieillot, 1817: Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat., nouv. éd. 17: 12 – region of Shark Bay, Western Australia.

Eolophus roseicapillus (Vieillot); Higgins 1999, HANZAB 4: 105.

Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot); David & Gosselin 2002, Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 122: 39.

Although the genus Eolophus is masculine, we follow David & Gosselin (2002a) and Dickinson & Remsen (2013) in changing the species epithet to “roseicapilla”, which should be treated as a noun in apposition, with the original spelling to be retained (ICZN 1999, Art. 31.2.1, 32.3, 34.2.1). Widespread throughout continental Australia and Tasmania. Polytypic; three subspecies (Schodde et al. 2016). Present in New Zealand as a cage-bird. Small population in South Auckland (Ponui Island, Mangatawhiri, Bombay, Clevedon). Presumed escapees recorded elsewhere (e.g. in C. Robertson et al. 2007). The subspecies of New Zealand birds has not been determined (Higgins 1999).

Family PSITTACULIDAE Vigors: Old World Parrots

Psittaculina Vigors, 1825: Zoological Journ. 2: 400 – Type genus Psittacula Cuvier, 1800.

Subfamily LORIINAE Selby: Lories, Rosellas, and Broad-tailed Parrots

Lorianae Selby, 1836: Naturalist’s Library, Ornith. 6: 57, 141 – Type genus Lorius Vigors, 1825.

Genus *Platycercus Vigors

Platycercus Vigors, 1825: Zoological Journ. 1: 527 – Type species (by original designation) Psittacus pennantii Latham = Platycercus elegans (Gmelin).

➤ *Platycercus eximius (Shaw)
Eastern Rosella | Kākā Uhi Whero

Psittacus eximius Shaw, 1792: Nat. Miscell. 3(31): text to pls 93–95 – region of Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia (fide Schodde 1997, Zool. Cat. Australia 37.2: 180).

Platycercus eximius eximius (Shaw); Checklist Committee 1953, Checklist N.Z. Birds: 54.

Platycercus eximius (Shaw); Checklist Committee 1970, Annot. Checklist Birds N.Z.: 58.

Platycercus eximus; Scofield & Stephenson 2013, Birds N.Z. Photographic Guide. 1st edition: 394. Misspelling.

South-east Australia and Tasmania (Higgins 1999). Three subspecies. Introduced to New Zealand by escape from captivity (Oliver 1955; Higgins 1999). Well established in settled districts, native forests, and forest remnants throughout Northland, Auckland, Waikato, King Country, western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, and Taupo (C. Robertson et al. 2007) as part of a gradual southward spread (D. Wright & Clout 2001). Also (mainly at edge of forest remnants and in adjacent farmland) in Wairarapa, Wellington, Waikanae, Upper Hutt Valley, and Otago (between Waikouaiti River and Waipori River gorge); isolated records elsewhere (C. Robertson et al. 2007). New Zealand birds have not been identified to subspecific level.

Genus Cyanoramphus Bonaparte

Cyanoramphus Bonaparte, 1854: Revue Mag. Zool. 6 (2nd series): 153 – Type species (by subsequent designation) Cyanoramphus zealandicus (Latham, 1790).

Cyanorhamphus Sclater, 1858: Journ. Linn. Soc. London, Zoology 2: 164. Unjustified emendation.

Bulleria Iredale & Mathews, 1926: Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 46: 76 – Type species (by original designation) Platycercus unicolor Lear = Cyanoramphus unicolor (Lear).

For general discussion of speciation in the genus see R.H. Taylor (1985), Boon, Daugherty et al. (2001), Kearvell et al. (2003), and Rawlence (2006). Identifications of Cyanoramphus in Holocene deposits are tentative because most bones (particularly isolated ones) cannot be reliably assigned to species due to overlap in size.

➤ Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae (Sparrman)
Red-crowned Parakeet | Kākāriki*

Lord Howe Island, New Zealand (including Kermadec, Chatham, and Auckland Islands / Maukahuka), and Macquarie Island. Taxonomic revision based on analysis of mtDNA control region sequences has reduced the number of recognised subspecies from eight to five: C. n. subflavescens Salvadori, 1891 (Lord Howe Island, extinct), C. n. erythrotis (Wagler, 1832) (Macquarie Island, extinct), and the three subspecies listed below. The closely related taxa C. saisseti Verreaux & Des Murs, 1860 (New Caledonia), C. cookii (G.R. Gray 1859) (Norfolk Island) , and C. hochstetteri (Antipodes Island) are now recognised as full species based on diagnostic nucleotide characters (Boon, Daugherty et al. 2001; Boon, Kearvell et al. 2001).

*Used as a generic name for Cyanoramphus parakeets.

Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cyanurus Salvadori
Kermadec Parakeet

Cyanorhamphus cyanurus Salvadori, 1891: Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., London 7 (6th series): 68 – Raoul Island, Kermadec group.

Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cyanurus Salvadori; Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 425.

Kermadec Islands / Rangitāhua: Raoul Island, Herald Islets, and Macauley Island (Veitch et al. 2004). Molecular analyses by Rawlence (2006) showed this taxon forms a clade within the general group of C. novaezelandiae taxa and with minimal separation from other C. novaezelandiae subspecies. Data presented by Rawlence (2006) point towards diagnostic morphological and genetic differences between the Raoul Island and Macauley Island populations. These have been retained within subspecies C. n. cyanurus, pending further analyses.

Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae novaezelandiae (Sparrman)
Red-crowned Parakeet | Kākāriki*

Psittacus Novae Zelandiae Sparrman, 1787: Mus. Carlsonianum 2: no XXVIII, pl. 28 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland.

Psittacus pacificus Gmelin, 1788: Syst. Nat., 13th edition 1(1): 329. Based on the “Pacific Parrot” of Latham 1781, Gen. Synop. Birds 1: 252 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland.

Lathamus Sparmanii Lesson, 1831: Traité d’Ornith. 1: 206 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland.

Pezoporus novae zeelandiae (Sparrman); Voigt 1831, in F. Cuvier, Thierreich 1: 750. Unjustified emendation.

Platycercus Novae Seelandiae (Sparrman); G.R. Gray 1843, in E. Dieffenbach, Travels in N.Z. 2: 192. Unjustified emendation.

Psittacus pacificus J.R. Forster, 1844: in M.H.C. Lichtenstein, Descrip. Animalium: 73 – South Island. Junior primary homonym and junior synonym of Psittacus pacificus Gmelin, 1788.

Cyanoramphus Pacificus (J.R. Forster); Bonaparte 1854, Revue Mag. Zool. 6 (2nd series): 153. Not Psittacus pacificus Gmelin, 1788.

Cyanoramphus Novae-Zelandiae (Sparrman); Bonaparte 1854, Revue Mag. Zool. 6 (2nd series): 153.

Cyanoramphus aucklandicus Bonaparte, 1856: Naumannia 6: 190 – New Zealand.

Platycercus novaeguineae G.R. Gray, 1859: List Specimens Birds Brit. Mus. Psittacidae 3(2): 14 – “New Guinea”, error for Dusky Sound, Fiordland (fide Mathews 1944, Emu 43: 245).

Platycercus Novae-Zealandiae (Sparrman); Ellman 1861, Zoologist 19: 7467. Unjustified emendation.

Platycercus pacificus (Gmelin); G.R. Gray 1862, Ibis 4: 228.

Platycercus aucklandicus (Bonaparte); G.R. Gray 1862, Ibis 4: 229.

Coriphilus Novae-Zeelandiae (Sparrman); Schlegel 1864, De Dierentuin: 77. Unjustified emendation.

Euphema novae zeelandiae (Sparrman); Schlegel 1864, Psittaci. Mus. d’Histoire Naturelle Pays-Bas: 105. Unjustified emendation.

Platycercus Forsteri Finsch, 1868: Papageien 2: 287. Nomen novum for Psittacus pacificus J.R. Forster, 1844.

Platycercus Novae Zelandiae Sparrman [sic]; Anon. 1870, Cat. Colonial Mus.: 73.

Platycercus novae zelandiae (Sparrman); Buller 1872 (Apr.), History of the Birds of N.Z., 1st edition (part 1): 58.

Platycercus rowleyi Buller, 1875: Trans. N.Z. Inst. 7: 220 – North Canterbury.

Cyanorhamphus novae-zeelandiae (Sparrman); Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 42. Unjustified emendation.

Cyanorhamphus novae-zeelandiae Rowleyi (Buller); Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 42. Unjustified emendation.

Cyanorhamphus novae-zeelandiae aucklandicus (Bonaparte); Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 42. Unjustified emendation.

Cyanorhamphus novae-zeelandiae Forsteri (Finsch); Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 43. Unjustified emendation.

Platycercus novae-zelandiae (Sparrman); Travers 1883, Trans. Proc. N.Z. Inst. 15: 187.

Cyanorhamphus aucklandicus (Bonaparte) [sic]; Hutton 1904, Index Faunae N.Z.: 29.

Cyanorhamphus novae-zealandiae (Sparrman); Buller 1906, Suppl. Birds N.Z. 2: 83. Unjustified emendation.

Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae novaezelandiae (Sparrman); Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 424.

Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae aucklandicus (Bonaparte); Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 425.

Cyanoramphus novae-zeelandiae (Sparrman); Mathews 1930, Emu 29: 282. Unjustified emendation.

Cyanorhamphus novaezelandiae rowleyi (Buller); Mathews 1944, Emu 43: 245.

Cyanorhamphus novaezelandiae sejunctus Mathews, 1944: Emu 43: 245 – North Island.

New Zealand. Very rare on the mainland, but common on many offshore islands (C. Robertson et al. 2007). North Island: occasionally reported from remaining areas of heavy forest, but apparently absent from Mount Egmont / Mount Taranaki, East Cape, and the Ruahine Ranges; present on Manawatāwhi / Three Kings, Poor Knights, Hen and Chickens, Mokohinau, Hauturu / Little Barrier, Rakitu / Arid, Mercury, The Aldermen, and Kapiti Islands. Introduced to Tiritiri Matangi, Cuvier / Repanga, Moutohora / Whale, Matiu / Somes, and Motuihe Islands, and Zealandia Sanctuary, Wellington city (Miskelly & Powlesland 2013). South Island: occasionally reported in the west. Quite widespread on Stewart Island / Rakiura and its outliers (Codfish / Whenua Hou, Taukihepa / Big South Cape, Bench, Ruapuke, and Green Islands). Widely distributed on the Auckland Islands / Maukahuka (Adams, Ewing, Enderby, and Rose Islands; Miskelly, Elliott et al. 2020) where molecular data from Boon, Kearvell et al. (2001) and Rawlence (2006) confirmed that it is still more or less genetically identical to the mainland type despite fairly extensive hybridisation with nominate C. auriceps present at the same locations (see below).

*Used as a generic name for Cyanoramphus parakeets.

Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae chathamensis Oliver
Chatham Island Red-crowned Parakeet

Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae chathamensis Oliver, 1930: New Zealand Birds, 1st edition: 412 – Chatham Islands.

Chatham Islands: southern portion of Chatham Island and on Pitt, Mangere, and Rangatira Islands (Aikman & Miskelly 2004). Common in Holocene deposits and in middens. The taxonomic status of this taxon was supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses by Boon et al. (2000) and Boon, Kearvell et al. (2001).

➤ Cyanoramphus auriceps (Kuhl)
Yellow-crowned Parakeet | Kākāriki*

Psittacus pacificus variety δ Gmelin, 1788: Syst. Nat., 13th edition 1(1): 329. Based on the “Pacific Parrot, var. C” of Latham 1781, Gen. Synop. Birds 1: 252 – Dusky Sound, Fiordland. Junior primary homonym of Psittacus pacificus Gmelin, 1788.

Psittacus auriceps Kuhl, 1820: Nova Acta Acad. Caesarea Leopold.-Carol. 10: 46 – South Island.

Platycercus Auriceps (Kuhl); G.R. Gray 1843, in E. Dieffenbach, Travels in N.Z. 2: 193.

Trichoglossus Aurifrons; G.R. Gray 1843, in E. Dieffenbach, Travels in N.Z. 2: 193. Not Psittacus aurifrons Lesson, 1831.

Cyanoramphus Auriceps (Kuhl); Bonaparte 1854, Revue Mag. Zool. 6 (2nd series): 153.

Euphema auriceps (Kuhl); Lichtenstein 1854, Nomencl. Av.: 72.

Platycercus auriceps (Kuhl); G.R. Gray, 1862: Ibis 4: 229.

Coriphilus auriceps (Kuhl); Schlegel 1864, De Dierentuin: 77.

Cyanorhamphus auriceps (Kuhl); Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 43.

Cyanorhamphus auriceps intermedia Reichenow, 1881: Journ. für Ornith. 29: 44 – New Zealand.

Cyanoramphus auriceps auriceps (Kuhl); Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 426.

Cyanoramphus auriceps macleani Mathews & Iredale, 1913: Ibis 1 (10th series): 426 – North Island.

Cyanoramphus auriceps novana Mathews, 1930: Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 50: 42 – Birch Ridge, “Maungahaumia” [= Maungahaumi], Gisborne.

New Zealand. Now more common on the mainland than the red-crowned parakeet (Higgins 1999). North Island: mainly restricted to central forested areas and the Tararua Range; present on Hauturu / Little Barrier Island. Introduced to Mana Island (Miskelly & Powlesland 2013). South Island: widespread in western Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, inland North Canterbury, western Otago, the Catlins and Fiordland; Chetwode Islands. Present on Stewart Island / Rakiura and outliers (Bench, Ulva, Jacky Lee / Pukeokaoka, Codfish / Whenua Hou and Taukihepa / Big South Cape Islands). Introduced to Motuara and Long Islands, Queen Charlotte Sound (Miskelly & Powlesland 2013). Auckland Islands / Maukahuka (Auckland and Ewing Islands; Miskelly, Elliott et al. 2020).

Cyanoramphus auriceps previously included the subspecies C. a. malherbi (South Island) and C. a. forbesi (Chathams), but these are now listed as full species. Specimens of C. auriceps on the Auckland Islands were revealed to be a distinct clade contained within the mainland form, but with some evidence of hybridisation with C. malherbi before 1942–43 (Rawlence 2006). There is now extensive hybridisation between C. auriceps and C. n. novaezelandiae on the Auckland Islands (Miskelly, Elliott et al. 2020).

*Used as a generic name for Cyanoramphus parakeets.

➤ Cyanoramphus malherbi Souancé
Orange-fronted Parakeet | Kākāriki Karaka

Cyanoramphus Malherbi Souancé, 1857: Revue Mag. Zool. 9 (2nd series): 98 – “unknown locality” = South Island (fide Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 426).

Platycercus malherbii (Souancé); G.R. Gray, 1862: Ibis 4: 229. Unjustified emendation.

Platycercus alpinus Buller, 1869: Ibis 5 (new series): 39 – high country of the South Island.

Cyanorhamphus alpinus (Buller); Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 44.

Cyanorhamphus auriceps Malherbi (Souancé); Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 44.

Cyanorhamphus malherbei (Souancé); Hutton 1904, Index Faunae N.Z.: 29. Unjustified emendation.

Cyanoramphus malherbi Souancé; Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 426.

Cyanoramphus auriceps auriceps; Checklist Committee 1990, Checklist Birds N.Z.: 179. Not Psittacus auriceps Kuhl, 1820.

New Zealand, formerly widespread but now confined to forested valleys in Canterbury region, notably the Hurunui River valley. Progeny from a captive breeding programme were released on Chalky, Maud, Mayor, and Blumine Islands, with limited success (Miskelly & Powlesland 2013). Until recently, classified as either a colour morph or as a subspecies of C. auriceps (see R.H. Taylor et al. 1986). Now established as a separate species based on field observation of assortative mating in sympatry, and molecular evidence (Kearvell et al. 2003).

➤ Cyanoramphus forbesi Rothschild
Forbes’ Parakeet

Cyanorhamphus forbesi Rothschild, 1893: Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1893 (35): 529 – Chatham Islands.

Cyanoramphus auriceps forbesi Rothschild; Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 426.

Cyanoramphus forbesi Rothschild; Chan et al. 2006, Conservation Genetics 7: 493.

Chatham Islands; resident on Mangere and Little Mangere Islands, ranging to Pitt Island (T. Greene 1989). Recognised as a full species based on molecular evidence from allozyme electrophoresis (Triggs & Daugherty 1996) and mtDNA sequencing (Boon, Kearvell et al. 2001; Chan et al. 2006). Hybridises extensively with C. n. chathamensis on Mangere Island (Boon et al. 1999), but still persists as a distinct morphotype and genotype under active conservation management. Occasionally reported from the southern, forested part of the main island (Melville 1984; T. Greene 1989).

➤ Cyanoramphus unicolor (Lear)
Antipodes Island Parakeet

Platycercus unicolor Lear, 1831: Illustr. Psittac. 4: pl. 25 – Antipodes Island.

Cyanorhamphus unicolor (Lear); Reichenow 1881, Journ. für Ornith. 29: 41.

Platycercus fairchildii Hector, 1888: in Buller, History of the Birds of N.Z., 2nd edition 1: 149 – Antipodes Island.

Pezoporus fairchildii (Hector); Hector 1895, Trans. N.Z. Inst. 27: 285.

Cyanoramphus unicolor (Lear); Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 425.

Bulleria unicolor (Lear); Mathews 1944, Emu 43: 245.

Antipodes Island and its islets, including Bollons Island (Warham & Bell 1979). Relationships to other members of the genus were established by Boon, Kearvell et al. (2001).

➤ Cyanoramphus hochstetteri (Reischek)
Reischek’s Parakeet

Platycercus hochstetteri Reischek, 1889: Trans. N.Z. Inst. 21: 387 – Antipodes Island.

Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae hochstetteri (Reischek); Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th series): 425.

Cyanoramphus erythrotis hochstetteri (Reischek); Kearvell et al. 2003, Notornis 50: 28.

Cyanoramphus hochstetteri (Reischek); Chambers & Boon 2005, Notornis 52: 250.

Antipodes and Bollons Islands and all adjacent islets (Warham & Bell 1979). Molecular data from Boon, Kearvell et al. (2001), and discussions in Kearvell et al. (2003), make a strong case that this taxon is recognisable as a distinct species from all forms of C. novaezelandiae. However, their suggestion that it is a subspecies of the Macquarie Island parakeet, i.e. as C. erythrotis hochstetteri (after Salvadori 1891), must be disregarded as it is based on an incorrect identification of a museum specimen (Scofield 2005b). The species status adopted here follows Chambers & Boon (2005) and Rawlence (2006).