: 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 This was a task that keas are reported to have managed with ease but most of the giraffes failed. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 May 2023 Known locally as Johnny rooks, these mischievous, playful and often destructive falcons excel at problem-solving, acting rather like keas, a highly intelligent alpine parrot that lives in the mountains of New Zealand. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 The kea, an endangered parrot, finished in third place with 12,060 votes. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of kea was in 1862

Dictionary Entries Near kea

Cite this Entry

“Kea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kea. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Geographical Definition

Kea

geographical name

variants or ancient Ceos
island of Greece in the northwestern Cyclades Islands island area 67 square miles (174 square kilometers)

Note: Kea's chief town is also named Kea.

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