Rhynochetos jubatus
The Kagu, Rhynochetos jubatus, is an extraordinarily unique and enigmatic medium-sized, ash-grey bird, endemic to the dense forests of New Caledonia. Measuring approximately 55 cm (22 inches) in length and weighing between 700-1100 grams, its most striking feature is a long, prominent crest that can be raised or lowered at will, giving it a perpetually surprised or alert appearance. Distinctive field marks include a vibrant red bill and legs, and a black-and-white banded pattern on its wings,...
Found exclusively in the primary, dense wet evergreen forests, maquis shrubland, and humid montane forests of New Caledonia, primarily between 100-1400 meters elevation.
Primarily carnivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates including earthworms, snails, slugs, spiders, and insect larvae, meticulously extracted from the forest floor.
Kagus are diurnal, highly territorial birds, active primarily during the early morning and late afternoon, often roosting on low branches or within dense undergrowth at night. Their foraging strategy involves a slow, deliberate walk through leaf litter, probing with their unique bilaterally compr...
The Kagu is strictly endemic to the island of Grande Terre in New Caledonia, an archipelago in the South Pacific. Its distribution is highly fragmented, with the largest remaining populations concentrated in the central and southern wet evergreen forests, particularly within protected areas like ...
Endangered
- The Kagu is the national bird of New Caledonia and a symbol of the island's unique biodiversity. - It is the only surviving species in its entire family (Rhynochetidae) and belongs to a monotypic order (Eurypygiformes), making it a true avian relic. - Despite having wings, it is virtually fligh...