Kea
/ˈkiːə/noun
A large, intelligent New Zealand parrot known for its olive-green plumage and playful behavior.
Did you know?Kea is a Māori name, probably connected with the bird’s distinctive call, although its precise etymology is uncertain rather than securely derived from an older Indo-European root.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-European New Zealand
Māori
kea
“The Māori name for the alpine parrot; the word’s original internal derivation is uncertain.”
18th Century
Māori
kea
“An indigenous bird name used in oral tradition before European transcription.”
1830s
English
kea
“An English rendering of the Māori name encountered in descriptions of New Zealand wildlife.”
19th Century
English
kea
“A New Zealand mountain parrot, increasingly documented by naturalists and settlers.”
Modern English
English
kea
“The established common name for Nestor notabilis, a highly intelligent alpine parrot.”