Kakapo and the origin of flight (was RE: del Hoyo's avian volumes )

["Williams, Tim" <TiJaWi@agron.iastate.edu>]

Dino Guy Ralph Miller wrote:

> The kakapo is a large flightless parrot.  I think Tim is confusing it
> with New Zealand's kokako, 

Nope, for once I'm not confused.  I was correct in citing the kakapo
(_Strigops_), not the kokako (_Callaeas_).  I'm quite aware of the
difference between a kakapo (a parrot) and a kokako (a wattlebird - like the
extinct huia of Hawaii).

Says Greg Paul on p.137 of DA: "Although cited as being flightless, the
kakapo actually has significant aerial capacity; it can glide a substantial
descending distance and is even capable of weak, brief climbing flight..."
And later on the same page: "The flight capacity of extinct birds can be
assessed by comparing their flight features to those of the kakapo..."

> "The Life of Birds" documentary shows them scampering and hopping from 
> branch to branch high up in a tree. 

I saw the TV series and read David Attenborough's book.  By the way,
according to Sir David, the kagu (another flightless New Zealand beginning
with 'k') also uses its wings for short glides.

> It wouldn't be the first time these names got mixed up by non-kiwis on
> this list.

Not on this occasion.

I may not be a kiwi (i.e. a New Zealander), but I do hail from the same neck
of the Antipodean woods.  A few years ago I popped across the Tasman Sea and
visited NZ (beautiful country, by the way).  While there, I saw a kakapo in
captivity - though I didn't witness the aerial behavior quoted in DA (and
described by Livezy).



Tim


------------------------------------------------------------ 

Timothy J. Williams 

USDA-ARS Researcher 
Agronomy Hall 
Iowa State University 
Ames IA 50014 

Phone: 515 294 9233 
Fax:   515 294 3163