Kakapo

The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) is the world's only flightless parrot. It is also one of the heaviest, weighing in at almost 6 pounds. The kakapo spends a lot of it's time on the ground, eating fruit, leaves, seeds, and roots. Instead of using it's wings for flight, the kakapo uses them, along with it's tail, to help it keep balance as it maneuvers itself through it's jungle home. 

The kakapo is also known as an owl parrot, due to it's face. It has a facial disc that is a common characteristic of many owls. The facial disc is made up of many small feathers that create a bowl like shape on the bird's face. This allows the bird to focus sounds towards its ears. Kind of like a satellite dish. Since the kakapo has no real defense, it needs anything it can to help it survive. It's plumage also makes it hard to see as it hides in vegetation on the forest floor. The kakapo is very active at night. It's name literally means night parrot. To help it get around at night, the kakapo has bristly feathers around it's facial disc that act like feelers. Kind of the same why a cat's whiskers work.

Kakapos are considered critically endangered, meaning they are close to being extinct. This is mainly do to predation by animals like cats that were introduced to New Zealand by humans. Such animals are considered invasive, meaning they are not native to the land and do more harm than good. Many invasive species are introduced by people with a good goal in mind; like controlling a pest specie or providing a new food source. But, these new species often over populate and battle native species for resources like food, water, and habitat, or, like the kakapo, they become food to the introduced specie. The kakapo is now found in only three distinct parts of New Zealand where they are highly protected.

Source: The Encyclopedia of Animals, 2006, Per Christiansen