Saturday 15 June
Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus)
ENDANGEREDKagu fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Kagu description
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rhynochetidae |
| Genus | Rhynochetos (1) |
The Kagu is a flightless bird with grey plumage; its pale colouring has led to the name of 'ghost of the forest' by local people (4). The sexes are similar in appearance with mainly ash-grey plumage apart from black barring on the wings that is only visible when they are out-stretched (5). There is a prominent crest of feathers on the back of the head, which may be erected in display, and the legs and bill are orange in colour (5).
- Spanish
- Kagú.
- Size
- Length: 55 cm (2)
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Related species
Kagu biology
Kagu pairs occupy territories that are 10 to 28 hectares in size (2). They are active during the day, sleeping on nests at night (4). A single chick is raised each year, although in particularly dry years even this may not be possible (4). Kagus feed on a variety of invertebrates such as worms and snails and even some small vertebrates such as lizards (2).
TopKagu range
Endemic to the island of New Caledonia in the South Pacific (2).
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Species with a similar range
Kagu habitat
These birds are found within a variety of forest types, from humid forest to scrub (2).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Kagu status
Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1), and listed on Appendix I of CITES (3).
Kagu threats
The loss of much of New Caledonia's native forests has caused the numbers of kagus to decline. Forests have been cleared for timber and to make way for agriculture and these birds have also traditionally been hunted for their meat. Kagus are island birds that have evolved in isolation and in the absence of terrestrial predators; when Europeans first arrived on New Caledonia they bought with them rats, cats and dogs and these flightless birds represented easy prey (4). Today, dogs may represent the most important threat to the survival of this species; in 1993, dogs killed 17 out of 21 radio-collared birds within the reserve of Pic Nigua alone (2).
TopKagu conservation
Kagus are protected within the Riviere Bleue, and dogs are controlled in this area (2). They are also found within the Reserve Speciale de Faune et de Flore de la Novdela, where there is no dog control in place (2). In 1992, Birdlife International initiated a Recovery Programme for this species. A captive breeding programme, run by the Southern Province and the Societe Caledonienne d'Ornithologie, has been in place since 1978 (4) and juveniles have been released into the Riviere Bleue Park with some success (4). Dog attacks are difficult to control despite legislation and education of owners, but remain a priority for the secure future of this species (2), which is now the national bird of New Caledonia (4).
|
View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. |
Find out more
For more information on the kagu see:
-
BirdLife International:
www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=2808&m=0
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Glossary
- Endemic
- A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
- Invertebrates
- Animals with no backbone.
- Territories
- Area occupied and defended by an animal, a pair of animals or a colony.
- Vertebrates
- Animals with a backbone.
References
-
IUCN Red List (March, 2008)
http://www.iucnredlist.org -
BirdLife International (April, 2003)
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html -
CITES (April, 2003)
http://www.cites.org -
WCMC Species Sheets (March, 2008)
http://www.unep-wcmc.org/species/data/species_sheets/kagu.htm - Erritzoe, J. (1993) The Birds of CITES and How to Identify Them. The Lutterworth Press, Cambridge.
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Image credit
Kagu displaying
© Roger Le Guen / Biosphoto
Biosphoto
16 rue Velouterie
Avignon
84000
France
Tel: +33 (490) 162 042
Fax: +33 (663) 208 434
http://www.biosphoto.com/
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