This big, moss-colored bird from New Zealand is so heavy that it stays on the ground, climbing trees with its strong feet instead of flying!
Most parrots are famous for soaring through the trees, but the Kakapo (also known as the "owl parrot") prefers to keep its feet on the ground. It is one of the strangest and rarest birds on the planet.
The main reason the Kakapo can't fly is its weight. It is the heaviest parrot in the world, with some males weighing as much as 4 kilograms (about 9 pounds) - that's like a large house cat! Because it lived for millions of years in New Zealand where there were no predators like cats or weasels, it never needed to fly away to stay safe. Over time, its wings became short and its flight muscles became weak.
If it can't fly, how does it get around? The Kakapo is an amazing climber. It uses its strong legs and sharp claws to "hike" up tall trees to find fruit and seeds. When it wants to get down, it uses its wings like a parachute to help it glide or hop gently to the forest floor.
The Kakapo is unique in other ways too. It is nocturnal (active at night), smells very sweet (some say like flowers or honey), and can live for over 90 years! Because it moves slowly and doesn't fly, it is very easy for introduced predators to catch, which is why scientists in New Zealand work very hard to protect the few Kakapos that are left.
The Kakapo is the world's only flightless parrot. It evolved to be heavy and flightless because it had no enemies for a long time. Today, it survives by being a great climber and a very long-lived resident of the New Zealand bush.
