Nestor (genus)

                                       Nestor (genus)

The genus Nestor is the type and only extant genus of the parrot family Nestoridae.^[1] Together with the kakapo, and the extinct parrots in the genus Nelepsittacus, they form the parrot superfamily Strigopoidea. The genus Nestorcontains two extant parrot species from New Zealand and two extinct species from Norfolk Island and Chatham Island, New Zealand, respectively. All species are large stocky birds with short squarish tails. A defining characteristic of the genus is the tongue, which is tipped with a hair-like fringe.^[2] The superficial resemblance of this tongue to that of lorikeets has led some taxonomists to consider the two groups closely related, but DNA evidence shows they are not.

All four species in the genus Nestor are thought to stem from a 'proto-kākā', dwelling in the forests of New Zealand 5 million years ago.^[3][5] The closest living relative of the genus is the kākāpō (Strigops habroptila).^[3][5][6][7] Together, they form the Strigopoidea, which comprises an ancient group that split off from all other Psittaciformes before their radiation