Marquesas Kingfisher Todiramphus godeffroyi Scientific name definitions

21 cm. Both sexes white crown , neck and underparts, dark mask through eye continuing as blue-black stripe and as thin band across nape; upper mantle with characteristic buffy triangle, rest of upperparts, wings and tail bright blue; upper mandible black, lower mandible pale yellow to pale horn, with dark tip and cutting edges; iris dark brown; legs and feet black. Juvenile blue-green crown, black side of head and across breast, green-blue upperparts.

Hiva Oa and Tahuata (probably extinct in the former) (1 BirdLife International (2013). IUCN Red List for birds. URL: http://www.birdlife.org (download Aug 2013). Close ), in Marquesas Is; reports from other islands in Marquesas (Ua Pou, Mohotani and Fatu Hiva) are apparently erroneous.

Insects, mainly beetles (Coleoptera) and large grasshoppers (Orthoptera), and small lizards ; possibly some fish. Takes prey in the foliage, or by swooping to the ground or water from a perch .

Lays in Sept–Jan on Hiva Oa. Nest found in hole of old mango tree, another in hollow with 2 entrances dug into decayed screw-pine (Pandanus) trunk, site 2–5 m above ground, nest-hole diameter 3·5 cm, and another one in the stump of a dead coconut tree , 7 m high. No other information.

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: present in Marquesas Islands EBA. Population in 1970s 300–500 pairs on Tahuata and under 50 pairs on Hiva Oa. On latter island extremely rare in 1990 and last seen in Feb 1997 in the Atuona Valley; searches in 2001, 2004 and 2006 failed to find the species and it is now considered extinct on Hiva Oa BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Todiramphus godeffroyi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 03/04/2015. . Remaining Tahuata population reduced to 695 birds in 2003 and 401–484 birds in 2011 BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Todiramphus godeffroyi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 03/04/2015. . Global population therefore estimated to consist of 260–320 mature individuals BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Todiramphus godeffroyi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 03/04/2015. . Introductions of Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) and Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), as well as black rat (Rattus rattus), have been blamed for its decline on Hiva Oa, but these animals have been present on islands since earlier decades of 20th century; Great Horned Owl and Common Myna may not occur on Tahuata. Extensive damage has been caused to upland forest by feral livestock BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Todiramphus godeffroyi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 03/04/2015. . Possibly other factors, as yet unidentified, are responsible for this kingfisher’s parlous situation. Previously considered Endangered, but uplisted to Critically Endangered in 2009 following its presumed extinction on Hiva Oa; now found on a single small island on which it is suspected to be declining owing to habitat deterioration and predation.