Nestor (genus)

The genus Nestor is one of the two extant genera of the parrot family Strigopidae. Together with the kākāpō, and the extinct parrots in the genus Nelepsittacus, they form the parrot superfamily Strigopoidea. The Nestor's genus contains two extant parrot species from New Zealand and two extinct species from Norfolk Island, Australia and Chatham Island, New Zealand, respectively. All species are large stocky birds with short squarish tails. A defining characteristic of the genus is the tongue, which is tipped with a hair-like fringe. The superficial resemblance of this tongue to that of lorikeets has led some taxonomists to consider the two groups closely related, but DNA evidence shows they are not.

Classification
All four species in the genus Nestor are thought to stem from a 'proto-kaka', dwelling in the forests of New Zealand 5 million years ago. The closest living relative of the genus is the kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus). Together, they form the Strigopoidea, an ancient group that split off from all other Psittaciformes before their radiation.

In 2012 Leo Joseph and collaborators proposed that the genus Nestor should be placed in its own family, Nestoridae. This proposal has not been adopted in lists of the world birds and instead Nestor is placed with the genus Strigops in the family Strigopidae.

Species
There are two surviving species and at least one well documented extinct species in the genus Nestor. Very little is known about the fourth, the Chatham kākā, which may have been conspecific with another kaka species.


 * Kea, Nestor notabilis
 * Kākā, Nestor meridionalis
 * North Island kākā, Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis
 * South Island kākā, Nestor meridionalis meridionalis
 * †Norfolk kākā, Nestor productus (extinct)
 * †Chatham kākā, Nestor chathamensis (extinct)

Status
Of the four species, the Norfolk kaka and Chatham kaka became extinct in recent history. The last known individual of the Norfolk kaka died in captivity in London sometime after 1851, and only between seven and 20 skins survive. The Chatham kaka became extinct in pre-European times, after Polynesians arrived at the island, between 1550 and 1700, and is only known from subfossil bones. The mainland kaka is listed as endangered, and the kea is listed as vulnerable.