Family Kagu (Rhynochetidae)
Endangered
Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus)
Taxonomy
French: Kagou huppé German: Kagu Spanish: Kagú
Other common names:
Cagou
Taxonomy:
Rhynochetos jubatus
J. P. Verreaux and Des Murs
, 1860,New Caledonia
.Distribution:
New Caledonia.
Descriptive notes
55 cm; 800–1100 g; mean wingspan 86 cm. Flightless, but wings appear full-sized. Distinctive ash-grey and white plumage, with contrasting longish orange-red bill and... read more
Voice
Loud song that carries up to 1 km. Male produces series of very soft, deep notes, rendered "ko... read more
Habitat
Native forests, and occasionally damper and taller shrubland, from sea-level up to mountain summits... read more
Food and feeding
Eats wide range of soil and litter prey, especially millipedes, snails, beetles, lizards and worms. Tiny stones and earth found in stomach... read more
Breeding
Pairs monogamous, breeding on permanent territories of c. 20 ha (range 10–28 ha). Main nesting period at low altitude Jun–Aug,... read more
Movements
Established pairs generally sedentary; some overlap of foraging areas between pairs, but generally... read more
Status and conservation
ENDANGERED. CITES I. Drastic decline since European arrival on New Caledonia. Range now very small (1,300 km2) and extremely fragmented. Species now restricted mostly to... read more
Relationships unclear. Monotypic.