Marquesas Monarch Pomarea mendozae Scientific name definitions

17 cm; mean 29·6 g (race motanensis). Dull-coloured flycatcher. Nominate race extinct. Male race <em>motanensis</em> has entire plumage black , with dark iris, pale blue bill and dark legs. Female has black head, white body and tail, with pinkish-buff tinge below and black wings with broad white feather fringes. Immature has whitish lores and eyering, orange-buff head, brown mantle and wings, orangey-buff wingbars, orange wash on breast and flanks, and whitish belly. Nominate race differed only in plumage of female, which had black subterminal spots on tail.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Principally found in dry forest with Pisonia grandis, Cordia subcordata and Thespesia populnea at low to middle elevations, but also observed in Sapindus saponaria and Hibiscus tiliaceus groves; adults apparently prefer areas of dense, luxuriant vegetation and immatures frequent shrubby vegetation (of Jossinia reinwardtiana and Cordia lutea) in dry areas, which may be vulnerable to fire. Species is thought originally to have preferred lowland forest, now largely destroyed, but is currently observed at elevations of 140–500 m, i.e. to the summit of Mohotani.

Mainly insectivorous. Active feeder at all forest levels; appears to prefer sunlit areas among dead leaves.

On Mohotani (race motanensis) gives a raspy “sherkee-six” or “tchioui-tchioui”, and clear whistled “sooweet”.

Appears to occur throughout year. Aggressively defends territory. Nest (with diameter 12–14 cm) constructed 4–20 m above ground on sunny side of a native tree, same tree being used by pair for a long time; territory c. 1 ha. Clutch 1–2 eggs, white. No other information.

ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: present in Marquesas Islands EBA. Survives only in forests of Mohotani, where 200 individuals or 80–110 pairs in 2005, in c. 165 ha of Pisonia and other native forest remnant in centre of island, and < 50 ha of Sapindus saponaria and fau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) near the deforested inland plateau. Extent of suitable habitat seems not yet to have changed significantly, despite overgrazing and lack of regeneration caused by sheep. Population appears to be stable, at c. 4–5 pairs/10 ha in suitable habitat. Main threats are habitat degradation by feral sheep, and predation by cats (Felis domesticus) and Pacific rats (Rattus exulans). Mohotani has been protected since 1968, but hunting bans have led to a rapid increase in feral sheep and subsequent degradation of habitat. Plans exist to reduce sheep population, and to fence-off areas to prevent grazing and allow forest regeneration and restoration. A cat-eradication programme has been proposed, and care must be taken to avoid the introduction of black rats (Rattus rattus). Nominate race (on Hiva Oa and Tahuata) was common on Hiva Oa in 1921–1922, but in 1975 just a single individual was found, in native upper-elevation wet forest, after lengthy searches, and none was seen in subsequent years up to and including 2000; described as common also on Tahuata in 1922, but it had died out by 1975 and surveys until as recently as 2009 have failed to locate it there. The introduced Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) and Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) are implicated in disappearance from Hiva Oa, but the introduction of black rats (on Hiva Oa from at least 1921, and on Tahuata in 1989) is likely to have been an even greater contributory factor.