Birds Active during the day

Yellow-crowned Parakeet

Cyanoramphus auriceps

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A flash of emerald and gold in the New Zealand bush, the Yellow-crowned Parakeet is a resilient and acrobatic treasure of the forest canopy.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length 23-25 cm (9-10 in); weight 80-100 g (2.8-3.5 oz)

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Colors

Bright emerald green body, golden-yellow crown, small crimson-red band above the nostrils, and violet-blue flight feathers. Males and females look similar, though males are slightly larger.

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Key Features

Distinctive golden-yellow patch on the forehead
Small crimson-red band between the eye and beak
Emerald green plumage with violet-blue outer wing feathers
Long, slender tail and rapid, undulating flight

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 7-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Omnivorous and opportunistic; they eat seeds, fruits, flowers, and nectar from native trees like beech and kōwhai. They also forage for invertebrates, including scale insects and caterpillars, to provide extra protein.

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Habitat Primary native forests (especially beech and podocarp), subantarctic scrublands, and increasingly in suburban gardens near forested areas.

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Where Does the Yellow-crowned Parakeet Live?

The Yellow-crowned Parakeet is endemic to New Zealand, occurring naturally across the North, South, and Stewart Islands, as well as the subantarctic Auckland Islands. While they are most concentrated in large, contiguous tracts of native forest, they are also found on several predator-free offshore islands where populations are thriving. Unlike some other native species, they have managed to persist on the mainland, though they are most common in areas with active conservation management.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

1 Countries

270K km² Range

Near Threatened Conservation

NZ New Zealand

Marginal

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Yellow-crowned Parakeet, known by its Māori name kākāriki, is an energetic and highly vocal bird. Unlike many other parrot species that congregate in large noisy flocks, these parakeets are more often seen in pairs or small family groups. They are masters of the forest canopy, using their beaks and claws to climb expertly through dense foliage in search of food. Their presence is usually announced by a distinctive, high-pitched 'ki-ki-ki-ki' chatter that echoes through the trees.

These birds are particularly active during the early morning and late afternoon. While they are generally more elusive and forest-dwelling than the Red-crowned Parakeet, they are known for their inquisitive nature. In areas where predator control is high, they have become more comfortable around human dwellings, often visiting backyard gardens that offer native food sources or water baths. They are cavity nesters, often choosing holes in old-growth trees to raise their young.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the Yellow-crowned Parakeet on your backyard camera, focus on height and water. These birds prefer the mid-to-upper canopy, so mounting your camera 6 to 10 feet high on a tree trunk, angled toward a known perching branch or a high-mounted bird bath, will yield the best results. They are particularly attracted to shallow, clean water for drinking and bathing, especially during the drier summer months.

Because kākāriki have brilliant green plumage that blends into the leaves, use a camera with a high-resolution sensor and fast trigger speed. Set your device to record 10-20 second video clips rather than still photos; their rapid movements and constant head-bobbing are much easier to identify in motion. If you are using a trail camera in a forest setting, look for 'flyways'—clear paths through the understory that the birds use to navigate between feeding areas.

Baiting is rarely effective with this species, but planting native New Zealand flora like flax (harakeke) or kōwhai near your camera site acts as a permanent, natural lure. During the spring breeding season, they are more vocal and active, making this the ideal time to check your footage for social interactions or pairs scouting for nesting hollows.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Yellow-crowned Parakeet.

Red-crowned Parakeet

Features a solid red crown and a red stripe through the eye, whereas the Yellow-crowned has a yellow crown and no eye stripe.

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Extremely rare; looks similar but has a distinct orange band on the forehead rather than red and yellow.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yellow-crowned Parakeets are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. Their peak activity occurs in the early morning shortly after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before dusk, when they are most vocal and busy foraging for food.

The best way to attract them is by planting native New Zealand trees like beech, kōwhai, and flax. Providing a safe, elevated bird bath is also highly effective, as they frequently descend from the canopy to drink and wash.

Their diet is diverse, consisting of seeds, fruit, blossoms, and nectar. They are also known to eat small insects and larvae, particularly during the breeding season when they need extra protein for their chicks.

They are less common in urban centers than the Red-crowned Parakeet but are increasingly seen in suburban gardens that are located near large native forest reserves or 'islands' of predator-controlled bush.

The easiest way is the forehead color: the Yellow-crowned has a bright yellow crown with a small red band above the beak, while the Red-crowned has a much larger, solid red patch that extends past the eyes.

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