Brightly coloured, loud and sometimes talkative, parrots are intelligent birds with impressive problem-solving abilities.
Worldwide, there are almost 400 species of parrot (in the Psittaciformes order). These are split into three families. Psittacoidea are 'true' parrots, and include macaws, lorikeets and budgerigars. Then there are the Cacatuoidea, a family made up of cockatoos, and the Strigopoidea, which includes New Zealand parrots, such as the kea, kākā and kākāpō.
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Larger parrots tend to live longer than small ones. In captivity, some macaws can live as long as a human – which is remarkable given they are significantly smaller.
What is the world's largest parrot?
By length, the largest flying parrot in the world is the hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus). Found in the rainforests of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, this blue and yellow parrot has a powerful beak that allows it to easily break open nuts, such as macadamia, brazil and coconuts. It measures 1m long from the tip of its tail to the top of its head and can weigh up to 1.7kg.
Unfortunately, the gentle nature of the hyacinth macaw has made it popular in the pet trade. This, alongside habitat loss, means they are classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
But what about the kākāpō?
There is another bird that could take the accolade of the world's largest parrot. New Zealand's kākāpō, also known as the owl parrot, is a ground-dwelling parrot, and can weigh up to 3kg. It is the heaviest parrot in the world, but it doesn't fly, although they are excellent climbers. It can measure up to 64cm, has short wings and a small tail, and is the world's only flightless parrot.
The kākāpō is also thought to be one of the world's longest living birds, with some living up to a 100 years. Once widespread throughout New Zealand, the population has declined significantly following human settlement.
The kākāpō has been at the centre of several conservation efforts, including the most recent Kākāpō Recovery Programme, which has been broadly successful.
