Kokako
Australia, New Zealand, Oceania
Description
- Kokakos are small birds that have short and round wings.(ARK)
- They are part of the wattle-bird family.
- Kokakos have wattles, which are the colored flap of skin that hangs beneath the beak.(KCC)
- Kokakos are about 38-50 cm.(ARK)
- Kokakos have a unique characteristic where they "sing" songs like deep bells ringing for communication. In order to do this they flap their wings and use their voice to make these noises.(KCC)
- Kokakos buzz and screech to communicate.(ARK)
- Kokakos can live for up to 40 years.(KCC)
Food Chain
- Kokakos are herbivores and they find their food in trees.
- Their predators are rats, possums and stoats.
- Kokakos prefer fruits but they also eat leaves, insects and fruits.(ARK)
Habitat
- Kokakos live in the tall podocarp trees in the forests of New Zealand where the climate is temperate.
Adaptation
- Kokakos have strong legs which lets them have the ability to leap to one branch to another to find food.(ARK)
- They defend their territories by singing and chasing away other Kokakos.(KCC)
Critical Information
- The Kokako is endangered because the forest trees in which they live in are being cut down by humans for farmland.(ARK)
- Also, Kokakos are easy preys to catch since they do not fly very well compared to many other birds. (KCC)
- People are currently working on controlling the pests which may result in saving many Kokakos.(ARK)
Tiritiri Matangi Island Birdlife January 2012