Kea look somewhat unimpressive on the ground, with their backs and breasts a dull, olive grey in colour. When they are in flight, however, it’s a whole different story. The kea’s underwings are a vivid orange-red, its flight feathers are a rich blue-green, and its rump is crimson. These feathers aren’t just beautiful, they may have a vital function in communication; the red-orange that paints the undersides of the bird’s wings is visible in the UV spectrum, invisible to humans, but brilliant to birds!
