kea

¹ American  

[key-uh, kee-uh] / ˈkeɪ ə, ˈki ə /

noun

1. a large, greenish New Zealand parrot, Nestor notabilis.

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Kea ² American  

[key-ah, kee-uh] / ˈkeɪ ɑ, ˈki ə /

noun

1. Keos.

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Kéa ¹ British  

/ ˈkɛa /

noun

1. transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Keos

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Kea ² British  

noun

1. (in New Zealand) a member of the junior branch of the Scouts

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kea ³ British  

/ ˈkeɪə /

noun

1. a large New Zealand parrot, Nestor notabilis, with brownish-green plumage

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Etymology

Origin of kea

Borrowed into English from Maori around 1860–65

Example Sentences

The next highest votes went to the kea, which got 12,506 votes; and the kakaruia or black robin, which followed closely with 11,726 votes.

From BBC • Sep. 28, 2025

Rounding out the top five were the kea, kākāpō and the fantail.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2023

At least one major zoo, at Chester, said it would close while Bristol Zoo said squirrel monkeys, kea parrots and red pandas were being fed frozen ice lollies filled with vegetables, leaves or mealworms.

From Reuters • Jul. 19, 2022

Most charismatic is the kea, a cheeky New Zealand parrot whose “sweet, funny, squealy warble” may be analogous to human laughter.

From New York Times • Aug. 14, 2020

Konia kakahakaloa: Disobedient Akahakaloa; I kea a kau io k'awa Thou appearest as a warrior Kiipueaua.

From Northern California, Oregon, and the Sandwich Islands by Nordhoff, Charles