(→Taxonomy: Update link) |
|||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
Endemic to the small island of [[Rarotonga]] in the [[Cook Islands]], but recently introduced to the island of Atiu ca. 200 km/125 mi from Rarotonga. | Endemic to the small island of [[Rarotonga]] in the [[Cook Islands]], but recently introduced to the island of Atiu ca. 200 km/125 mi from Rarotonga. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | This is a [[Dictionary_M- | + | This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species. |
| + | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Forest undergrowth, esp. in wet, steep-sided valleys. Lowlands. | Forest undergrowth, esp. in wet, steep-sided valleys. Lowlands. | ||
Latest revision as of 21:06, 11 July 2014
Alternative names: Cook Islands Monarch; Rarotonga Flycatcher; Rarotonga Monarch-flycatcher
- Pomarea dimidiata
Identification
Total length: 14 cm (5½ in). Male is grey above, white below with a bluish-grey bill. Female is rufous with whiter belly, blackish tail-tip and center to wing-feathers and a black-tipped bluish-grey bill. Juvenile resemble female, but bill black with an orange base. Full adult male plumage take four years to develope. Younger males resemble females, but gradually attain the grey and white plumage. However, various sources present conflicting information on this, with some indicating that females follow the same age-related plumage-changes as the males; i.e. that both sexes become grey and white when 4+ years.
Distribution
Endemic to the small island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, but recently introduced to the island of Atiu ca. 200 km/125 mi from Rarotonga.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Habitat
Forest undergrowth, esp. in wet, steep-sided valleys. Lowlands.
Behaviour
Often bold. Feeds on small insects.
Breeding Oct-Feb. Juveniles from previous broods may stay and help adult pair with rearing of new brood. 1-2 eggs are laid in an open nest, but typically only one chick survive.
Nearly extinct by the early 80's and it was estimated that less than 50 individuals remained in 1983. A recovery plan was started in 1987 with the support of local landovners. A cornerstone in this plan was controlling populations of the introduced Black Rat (Rattus rattus) during the breeding season of the Rarotonga Monarch. This resulted in improven breeding success and a decreased in mortality of adults. Despite several severe cyclones passing the Cook Islands in 2005, the total population was estimated at ca. 280 individuals in early 2006. Due to the vulnerability of a species with the entire population on a single small island (total range approx. 2 km²), a number of individuals were introduced to the island of Atiu between 2001 and 2003, with the first recorded breeding in January 2003. It is currently consider endangered by BirdLife International.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2006. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553064
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rarotonga Monarch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rarotonga_Monarch
