Nestor (genus) explained

The genus Nestor is one of the two extant genera of the parrot family Strigopidae.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] [5] The closest living relative of the genus is the kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus).[4] [5] [6] [7] Together, they form the Strigopoidea, an ancient group that split off from all other Psittaciformes before their radiation.[4] [5] [7]

In 2012 Leo Joseph and collaborators proposed that the genus Nestor should be placed in its own family, Nestoridae.[8] 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.[9] [10] [11] [12]

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.

Nestoridae
Common name
(binomial name)
status		ImageDescriptionRange and habitat
Kea
(Nestor notabilis)
Endangered[13] 		48cm (19inches) long. Mostly olive-green with scarlet underwings and rump. Dark-edged feathers. Dark brown beak, iris, legs, and feet. Male has longer bill.[14] New Zealand: South Island

High-level forests and subalpine scrublands 850–1400 m AMSL.[15]
South Island kākā
(Nestor meridionalis meridionalis)
Endangered[16] 		Similar to the North Island kākā, but slightly smaller, brighter colours, the crown is almost white, and the bill is longer and more arched in males.[17] New Zealand: South Island

Unbroken tracts of Nothofagus and Podocarpus forests 450–850 m AMSL in summer and 0–550 m in winter.
North Island kākā
(Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis)
Endangered		About 45cm (18inches) long. Mainly olive-brown with dark feather edges. Crimson underwings, rump, and collar. The cheeks are golden/brown. The crown is greyish.New Zealand: North Island

Unbroken tracts of Nothofagus and Podocarpus forests between 450–850 m AMSL in summer and 0–550 m in winter.
Norfolk kākā
(†Nestor productus)
Extinct by 1851 approx.[18] 		About 38 cm long. Mostly olive-brown upperparts, (reddish-)orange cheeks and throat, straw-coloured breast, thighs, rump and lower abdomen dark orange. Formerly endemic on Norfolk Island and the adjacent Phillip Island[19]

Rocks and trees
Chatham kākā
(†Nestor chathamensis)
Extinct by 1550–1700[20] 		Only known from subfossil bones.Formerly endemic on Chatham Island of New Zealand

Forests

Status

Of the four species, the Norfolk kaka[18] [19] and Chatham kaka[20] became extinct in recent history. The last known individual of the Norfolk kaka died in captivity in London sometime after 1851,[21] and only between seven[22] and 20[23] 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.[20] The mainland kaka is listed as endangered,[16] [17] and the kea is listed as vulnerable.[13] [14]

Notes and References

  1. A revised nomenclature and classification for family-group taxa of parrots (Psittaciformes). Joseph, Leo. 2012. Zootaxa. 3205. 26–40. 10.11646/zootaxa.3205.1.2 . etal.
  2. Book: Forshaw, Joseph M.. Cooper, William T.. 1981. 1973, 1978. corrected second. Parrots of the World. David & Charles, Newton Abbot, London. 0-7153-7698-5.
  3. 10.1111/j.1525-142X.2007.00199.x. Tokita . M. Kiyoshi . T . Armstrong . KN . 2007. Evolution of craniofacial novelty in parrots through developmental modularity and heterochrony.. Evolution & Development. 9. 6. 590–601. 17976055. 46659963 .
  4. A Multilocus Molecular Phylogeny of the Parrots (Psittaciformes): Support for a Gondwanan Origin during the Cretaceous. Mol Biol Evol. 2008. T.F. . Wright. Schirtzinger . E. E. . Matsumoto . T. . Eberhard . J. R. . Graves . G. R. . Sanchez . J. J. . Capelli . S. . Muller . H. . Scharpegge . J. . Chambers . G. K. . Fleischer . R. C.. 25. 10. 2141–2156. 10.1093/molbev/msn160. 18653733. 2727385 .
  5. Grant-Mackie. E.J. . J.A. . Grant-Mackie . W.M. . Boon . G.K. . Chambers. 2003. Evolution of New Zealand Parrots. NZ Science Teacher. 103.
  6. Book: Juniper, Tony. Mike Parr. Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World. Yale University Press. 1998. 978-0-300-07453-6.
  7. de Kloet, R.S.; de Kloet, S.R. (2005). The evolution of the spindlin gene in birds: sequence analysis of an intron of the spindlin W and Z gene reveals four major divisions of the Psittaciformes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 36: 706 - 721.
  8. Joseph . L. . Toon . A. . Schirtzinger . E.E. . Wright . T.F. . Schodde . R. . 2012 . A revised nomenclature and classification for family-group taxa of parrots (Psittaciformes) . Zootaxa . 3205 . 1 . 26–40 . 10.11646/zootaxa.3205.1.2.
  9. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela Rasmussen . January 2023 . Parrots, cockatoos . IOC World Bird List Version 13.1 . International Ornithologists' Union . 18 June 2023.
  10. Book: Dickinson . E.C. . Edward C. Dickinson . Remsen . J.V. Jr. . James Van Remsen Jr. . 2013 . The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World . 1: Non-passerines . 4th . Eastbourne, UK . Aves Press . 978-0-9568611-0-8 . 353 . registration .
  11. Web site: Clements . J.F. . Schulenberg . T.S. . Iliff . M.J. . Fredericks . T.A. . Gerbracht . J.A. . Lepage . D. . Billerman . S.M. . Sullivan . B.L. . Wood . C.L. . 2022 . The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2022 . 18 June 2023 .
  12. Web site: HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 . Birdlife International . 18 June 2023.
  13. BirdLife International . 2017 . Nestor notabilis . 2017 . e.T22684831A119243358 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22684831A119243358.en . 12 November 2021. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered.
  14. Web site: Kea - BirdLife Species Factsheet . BirdLife International . 2008.
  15. Book: Juniper, Tony. Mike Parr. Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World. Yale University Press. 1998. 978-0300074536.
  16. BirdLife International . 2016 . Nestor meridionalis . 2016 . e.T22684840A93049267 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684840A93049267.en . 12 November 2021. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered.
  17. Web site: Kaka - BirdLife Species Factsheet . BirdLife International . 2008.
  18. BirdLife International . 2016 . Nestor productus . 2016 . e.T22684834A93049105 . 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684834A93049105.en . 12 November 2021. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered.
  19. Web site: Norfolk Island Kaka - BirdLife Species Factsheet . BirdLife International . 2008.
  20. Millener. P. R. . 1999. The history of the Chatham Islands' bird fauna of the last 7000 years – a chronicle of change and extinction. Proceedings of the 4th International meeting of the Society of Avian Paleontology and Evolution (Washington, D.C., June 1996). . Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology. 89. 85–109.
  21. Book: Greenway, James Cowan. Extinct and Vanishing Birds of the World. Dover Publications. New York. 1967. 2nd. James Greenway.
  22. Web site: Nestor productus - Norfolk Island Kaka specimen(s) in the ZMA . Nlbif.eti.uva.nl . 2008-12-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110608010236/http://nlbif.eti.uva.nl/zma3d/detail.php?id=226&sort=taxon&type=all . 2011-06-08 .
  23. Web site: Naturalis - Extinct bird: Nestor productus (Norfolk Island Kaka) . Nlbif.eti.uva.nl . 2008-12-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110608010247/http://nlbif.eti.uva.nl/naturalis/detail?lang=uk&id=51 . 2011-06-08 .

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