What Does the Kakapo Eat?

Kakapos are rare parrots that have critically endangered status, indicates the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species. These birds have been critically endangered since 2000. The geographic range for kakapos is extremely limited, as they exist on a mere four islands. A variety of risks are associated with the dropping population, including predation by cats. As of early 2012, 126 kakapos still existed. Kakapos typically reside in isolated mountain environments, although throughout the past usually inhabited forest settings. The smooth feathers of kakapos are generally green or light yellow in color.

For the most part, kakapos are herbivorous birds. Some of these parrots' dietary staples include fern roots, seeds, cones, green shoots, fungi, stems, foliage, moss, nuts, bulbs, pollen, bark and fruit. However, kakapos are not herbivores 100 percent of the time. Occasionally, they also dine on tiny reptiles, bugs and larvae. The season also has an influence on the kakapo diet.

Although kakapos readily eat a wide array of plants and fruits such as berries, their true meal preference lies in the rimu tree's fruit. In times when this specific fruit is readily available, kakapos tend to feed solely on it. Rimu tree fruit definitely is the kakapo favorite.

Kakapos possess specialized beaks that enable them to pulverize their sustenance within their mouths. Although the majority of birds utilize their gizzards for these chewing purposes, kakapos' gizzards are rather futile. Once a kakapo is through feeding on something, he will leave behind a conspicuous and fibrous chew mass that has a crescent form -- a direct result of his soaking up all of a plant's nourishment.