8. Kakapo: The Flightless Parrot
The kakapo of New Zealand is a true avian oddity—the world’s only flightless parrot. With no natural predators for much of its history, the kakapo evolved to be nocturnal and ground-dwelling, waddling through forests under the cover of darkness. Sadly, the arrival of invasive species pushed this charming bird to the brink of extinction. Now, dedicated conservationists are racing to ensure the kakapo’s survival. Read more about the kakapo here.