Red-Fronted (or Red Crowned) Kakarikis, more simply known as Kakarikis, are a mid-sized bird native to New Zealand. They're similar in size to a Cockatiel, though a bit more stocky in comparison. Personality wise, I would equate them to being fairly similar to Indian Ring Necks but generally with much less bluffing and much less unprovoked aggression involved.

They are inquisitive birds that love to be involved in day to day activities and are quite mischievous at times. Like Ringnecks, though, they are not a bird that enjoys being touched. If you are looking for an affectionate bird or one that enjoys pets and getting head scritches, a Kakariki may not be a good fit. The males are typically known for being the better talkers of the sexes, but both sexes are known to mimic. Males also tend to be a little more inclined to aggressive hormonal behavior, but this is something that should be a consideration for any species.

They are relatively quiet birds making them suitable for apartment living, however, an important consideration for anyone wishing to own these birds as pets is they can be incredibly messy and wasteful birds. They are ground foragers by nature and have a habit of scratching their food out of the dish and onto the bottom of the cage (or out onto the floor). Some owners mitigate this by placing their food bowls inside of a larger rectangular container on the bottom of the cage floor so the food that gets scratched and flung out has less of a chance of winding on the cage floor. They also LOVE to bathe! They should be allowed the opportunity to bathe daily if possible.

These birds are high energy and do best when they're fed a diet high in fresh food - veggies, some fruit, sprouted seed, nuts, edible flowers and herbs. They will also occasionally enjoy insects such as live or freeze dried mealworms.