Bruce the kea has already made international headlines for using pebbles as tools to preen himself. Now, research at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve has revealed another extraordinary example of his ability to adapt.

Despite missing his entire upper beak, Bruce is the alpha male of Willowbank's kea group.

Researchers from the University of Canterbury, working with the Institut de Neurociències at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, studied interactions between the kea at Willowbank and discovered Bruce had developed his own unique fighting technique — described as “jousting” — using his exposed lower beak to challenge other males.

During the study Bruce won all 36 of his recorded dominance interactions with other males, giving him the highest ranking within the group. Researchers also found he had the lowest stress-related hormone levels among the males, priority access to feeding stations and received social grooming from subordinate birds.

Published in Current Biology in 2026, the research is believed to be the first documented case of a disabled animal independently reaching and maintaining alpha-male status through behavioural innovation.

Bruce's story is remarkable in its own right. But it also demonstrates why opportunities to study kea matter — giving researchers new insights into the intelligence, adaptability and complex social behaviour of this threatened native species.

One remarkable bird. Still teaching us more.