The Kagu (Rhynochetos
jubatus) is only found in the mountain
forests of New Caledonia, which are islands to the east of Australia.
The Kagu is the sole surviving member in the family
Rhynochetidae and the only known close relative is the Sunbittern. Kagus are listed as an endangered
species by the IUCN Red List.
Kagus live on the forest
floor, but the strange thing about this bird is, at first glance, they don’t
seem to have adapted well to that type of habitat. Most creatures that live in forests and on the forest floor
have excellent camouflage in order to blend in and remain undetected by
predators or prey. The Kagu
however has an unusual look for a forest-dweller. It has light gray feathers, a bright
orange beak and legs, a head crest, and bold stripes on its wingtips. They are known locally as the “ghosts
of the forest.”
A Kagu showing
off its wings.
The Kagu is flightless,
although it does not have reduced wings like some other flightless birds. It has a wingspan of about 2.5 feet but
they lack the muscles for flight.
They are used mainly for display and can be used for gliding to escape
danger.
These birds are
carnivorous and eat a variety of small animals including worms, snails,
insects, and lizards. They find
most of their prey in the leaf litter and soil. If digging is required, they use their beak, not their
feet. They are the only birds to
possess ‘nasal corns’, structures covering the nostrils that prevent debris
from entering when prodding in the soil.
Another unique characteristic of this bird is that it has only one-third
the red blood cells and three times the hemoglobin per red blood cell compared
to other birds!
Kagu with
feather crest on display.
Before Europeans colonized
New Caledonia, there were no natural predators for these birds. Europeans brought cats, dogs, pigs, and
rats. Feral pigs and rats will eat
Kagu eggs and chicks; cats and dogs go after both young and adult birds. It is estimated that there are only between 250-1000 mature Kagus remaining in the wild today. They also
suffer from habitat loss caused by mining and forestry.
Kagus are protected in New
Caledonia and have been the subject of conservation efforts, including breeding
and releasing, and eradication of the unnatural predators.
Submitted by Sara Oliver,
World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist
No comments:
Post a Comment