Subfamily Halcyoninae Higher classification Todiramphus | Family Alcedinidae Genus Todiramphus Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Similar Society kingfisher, Chattering kingfisher, Talaud kingfisher, Vanuatu kingfisher, Mewing kingfisher | ||
The Marquesan kingfisher (Todiramphus godeffroyi) is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is endemic to French Polynesia. It is threatened by habitat loss and predation by introduced species, and is currently classified as Critically endangered, with less than 500 individuals left in the wild.
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Description
This unique bird is approximately 22 cm tall with a buff triangle on its upper back. It has completely white plumage on its crown, mantle, forehead, and center upper back along with featuring a blue eye-stripe pattern ending as broken line behind head. It also has a unique bright blue-green lower back, rump, tail and wings.
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs only on the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. It inhabits tropical moist lowland forests, where it prefers thick, humid vegetation along mountain streams and valleys. This bird also has been observed in coconut plantations and on dry slopes covered with mango trees.
Ecology
The species has been reported as nesting in mango trees and decayed hollows of pine trees. Its diet consists of a variety of insects and small vertebrates, mostly lizards.
Conservation
The Marquesan kingfisher is Critically endangered and currently likely numbers less than 500 individuals. The population has rapidly declined in recent decades, and it has become extinct on several smaller islands of the group, being reported only from Tahuata in 2011. Its forest habitat suffers from the presence of introduced species like feral cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and pigs. It is also subject to predation by the introduced great horned owl, the common myna and the black rat.