: a large mostly dull green New Zealand parrot (Nestor notabilis) that is normally insectivorous but sometimes destroys sheep by slashing the back to feed on the kidney fat
Examples of kea in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So far, the only animals that have demonstrated the ability to make choices based on statistics are our fellow primates and the kea, an alpine parrot from New Zealand.
—
John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 May 2023
But Kermit is a kea, a green parrot with a sharp, curved beak.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 June 2011
The Verheul family, from Dunedin in the southeast of the country, had just finished exploring part of the Kepler Track when a kea -- a native New Zealand species -- grabbed their GoPro and flew off over woodland.
—Sara Spary, CNN, 4 Feb. 2022
Local governments in New Zealand paid bounties for killing kea until the practice was ended in 1970, according to a news release from the aviary.
—Sara Tabin, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Apr. 2021
The researchers also showed the keas two jars that each contained an equal number of black and orange tokens.
—Virginia Morell, Science | AAAS, 3 Mar. 2020
Some other ways the zookeepers have been keeping the animals entertained include long walks for the llamas, spraying perfume to peak the interest of the lions and giving puzzle feeders to the keas (a bird species native to New Zealand).
—Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, 2 Apr. 2020
So do New Zealand parrots known as keas, scientists report today.
—Virginia Morell, Science | AAAS, 3 Mar. 2020
The kea and rockhopper teams have been taking their campaigns to the skies this week.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2019
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John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 May 2023
But Kermit is a kea, a green parrot with a sharp, curved beak.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 June 2011
The Verheul family, from Dunedin in the southeast of the country, had just finished exploring part of the Kepler Track when a kea -- a native New Zealand species -- grabbed their GoPro and flew off over woodland.
—Sara Spary, CNN, 4 Feb. 2022
Local governments in New Zealand paid bounties for killing kea until the practice was ended in 1970, according to a news release from the aviary.
—Sara Tabin, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Apr. 2021
The researchers also showed the keas two jars that each contained an equal number of black and orange tokens.
—Virginia Morell, Science | AAAS, 3 Mar. 2020
Some other ways the zookeepers have been keeping the animals entertained include long walks for the llamas, spraying perfume to peak the interest of the lions and giving puzzle feeders to the keas (a bird species native to New Zealand).
—Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, 2 Apr. 2020
So do New Zealand parrots known as keas, scientists report today.
—Virginia Morell, Science | AAAS, 3 Mar. 2020
The kea and rockhopper teams have been taking their campaigns to the skies this week.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2019
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kea.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Maori
First Known Use
1862, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near kea
Cite this Entry
“Kea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kea. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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