The Kakapo is the most basal of all the parrots. It is flightless and is the biggest of all living parrots. Being basal does not mean that it resembles the ancestral parrot - it has taken the same length of time for it to evolve to occupy its present niche and become flightless as it has taken the rest of the parrots to evolve to theirs. The ancestral parrot most likely could fly. Related to the Kakapo, Heracles inexpectatus (often referred to as "Hercules parrot"), is the biggest parrot ever known - twice the size of its descendant, the Kakapo. It was likely flightless too, its robust beak could crack open more than the conventional parrot foods of fruit, nuts, and berries and like the Kakapo, Heracles may have used it strong beak to climb trees.@Ken Gilliland , did you ever made the Native to New Zealand, kākāpō the walking green parrot aka the "Owl Parrot" ?
I saw a documentary the other day about this endangered species, so fascinating and unique.
The way the feathers mimic the forest floor for camouflage is amazing as is their behavior .
Thank you , I saw a lot of documentary about this parrot already and since I grow up around parrots, I just find this species so interesting , I can't explain it , their vocalization sounds like a little T-Rex and their mating call 'BOOMING' not typical for a bird , It is sad they are on the path for extinction , they need more attention of the world to preserve them.The Kakapo is the most basal of all the parrots. It is flightless and is the biggest of all living parrots. Being basal does not mean that it resembles the ancestral parrot - it has taken the same length of time for it to evolve to occupy its present niche and become flightless as it has taken the rest of the parrots to evolve to theirs. The ancestral parrot most likely could fly. Related to the Kakapo, Heracles inexpectatus (often referred to as "Hercules parrot"), is the biggest parrot ever known - twice the size of its descendant, the Kakapo. It was likely flightless too, its robust beak could crack open more than the conventional parrot foods of fruit, nuts, and berries and like the Kakapo, Heracles may have used it strong beak to climb trees.
Kakapo ((Strigops habroptilus):
View attachment 69314
A reconstruction of Heracles inexpectatus:
View attachment 69315
Both have been added to my wishlistKen there are a couple of NZ birds I was wondering if you had done/might do too, our Tui and Fantail
Thank you very much, the Fantails hold a special meaning for me as they are connected to my Granddad who died when I was 13Both have been added to my wishlist
I just grabbed SBRM Australia v2 before the sale ends tomorrow.Both Songbird ReMix Australia v2 and SBRM Art Treasures from the Bowerbird Collection are updated and out at Renderosity.
Thank-you for your support!I just grabbed SBRM Australia v2 before the sale ends tomorrow.