Diet
An omnivore, the Kea feeds on more than 40 plant species (Tab. 1), beetle larva, other birds (including shearwater chicks) and mammals (including sheep and rabbits). It has been observed breaking open shearwater nests to feed on the chicks after hearing the chicks in their nests. The Kea has also taken advantage of human garbage and "gifts" of food. In captivity, the bird is fond of butter, nuts, apples, carrots, grapes, mangoes, figs, bread, dairy products, ground meat and pasta.
There was a long-running controversy about whether the Kea preys on sheep. Sheep suffering from unusual wounds on their sides or loin were noticed by the mid-1860s, within a decade of sheep farmers moving into the high country. Although some supposed the cause was a new disease, suspicion soon fell on the Kea. James MacDonald, head shepherd at Wanaka Station, witnessed a Kea attacking a sheep in 1868, and similar accounts were widespread. Prominent members of the scientific community accepted that Kea attacked sheep, with Alfred Wallace citing this as an example of behavioural change in his 1889 book Darwinism. Despite substantial anecdotal evidence of these attacks, however, others remained unconvinced, especially in later years. For instance, in 1962, animal specialist J.R. Jackson concluded that while the bird may attack sick or injured sheep, especially if it mistook them for dead, it was not a significant predator. In 1993, however, its nocturnal assaults were captured on video, proving that at least some Kea will attack and feed on healthy sheep. The video confirmed what many scientists had long suspected, that the Kea uses its powerful curved beak and claws to rip through the layer of wool and eat the fat from the back of the animal. Though the bird does not directly kill the sheep, death can result from blood poisoning or accidents suffered by animals trying to escape.
There were also anecdotal reports of Kea attacking rabbits, dogs, and even horses.
The Kea has been observed feeding on the following plants:
| Fruits: | Astelia nervosa | Leaves and buds: | Euphrasia zelandica |
| Coprosma pseudopunctata | Gentianella bellidifolia | ||
| Coprosma pumila | Gentianella spenceri | ||
| Coprosma serrulata | Gnaphalium traversii | ||
| Cyathodes colensoi | Hebe pauciramosa | ||
| Cyathodes fraseri | Hebe vernicosa | ||
| Gaultheria depressa | Lagenophora petiolata | ||
| Muehlenbeckia axillaris | Nothofagus solandri var. cliff | ||
| Pentachondra pumila | |||
| Podocarpus nivalis | |||
| Seeds: | Aciphylla colensoi | Flowers: | Celimisia coriacea |
| Aciphylla ferox | Celimisia discolor var. ampla | ||
| Aciphylla monroi | Celimisia spectabilis var. ang | ||
| Astelia nervosa | Cotula pyrethrifolia | ||
| Hebe ciliolata | Gentianella bellidifolia | ||
| Pimelea oreophila | Gentianella patula | ||
| Pittosporum anomalum | Gentianella spenceri | ||
| Plantago raoulia | Haastia pulvinaris | ||
| Luzula campestris | |||
| Roots: | Anisotome pilifera | Entire plant: | Anisotome aromatica var. arom |
| Celmisia coriacea | Ourisia sessilifolia | ||
| Gingidium montanum | Ourisia caespitosa | ||
| Notothlaspi australe | Ourisia macrophylla | ||
| Ranunculus insignis |
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