Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Eurypygiformes > Rhynochetidae > Rhynochetos > Rhynochetos jubatus | Rhynochetos jubatus (Kagu) | |
The kagu or cagou (Rhynochetos jubatus) is a crested, long-legged, and bluish-grey bird endemic to the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia. It is the only surviving member of the genus Rhynochetos and the family Rhynochetidae, although a second species has been described from the fossil record. Measuring 55 cm (22 in) in length, it has pale grey plumage and bright red legs. Its 'nasal corns' are a unique feature not shared with any other bird. |
The Kagu is a highly unusual, almost flightless bird, which due to its startling ash-white plumage, is known locally as the ‘ghost of the forest’. The only representative of an entire taxonomic family, the Kagu resembles something between a small heron and a rail. It has a large crest, long legs, a peculiar ‘bark’, which can be heard over a mile away. It is endemic to Grand Terre, the largest island of New Caledonia and has been adopted as the national emblem. Sadly, following predation by dogs and habitat loss the Kagu is now listed as Endangered. The Kagu experienced a decline in numbers during the 1900s primarily due to predation by invasive species. Domestic dogs have historically been the main threat to the species along with cats and pigs. Uniqueness Scale: Similiar (0) Unique (100) Uniqueness & Vulnerability Scale: Similiar & Secure (0) Unique & Vulnerable (100) ED Score: 55.3819 EDGE Score: 6.11159 |
Adult Weight [1] | 1.95 lbs (883 g) | Birth Weight [2] | 50 grams |  | Diet [3] | Carnivore (Invertebrates), Carnivore (Vertebrates) | Diet - Ectothermic [3] | 30 % | Diet - Invertibrates [3] | 40 % | Diet - Scavenger [3] | 30 % | Forages - Ground [3] | 100 % |  | Clutch Size [2] | 1 | Incubation [2] | 35 days | Maximum Longevity [2] | 31 years | Wing Span [2] | 34 inches (.86 m) |
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Name |
Countries |
Ecozone |
Biome |
Species |
Report |
Climate |
Land Use |
New Caledonia rain forests |
France |
Australasia |
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
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BirdLife Species Factsheet: View Factsheet
Name |
Location |
IBA Criteria |
Website |
Climate |
Land Use |
Aoupinié |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Boulinda |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Bwa Opana |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Dent de Saint-Vincent |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2, A4ii |
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Entre les monts Cidoa et Bwa Bwi |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1 |
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Entre les monts Nakada et Do |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Entre les monts Rembaï et Canala |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Entre Table Unio et Farino |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Forêt Plate |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Goro Até et haute vallée de la rivière Tchamba |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Goro Jé et haute vallée de la rivière Amoa |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Grand Koum |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Hautes vallées des rivières Néaoua, Koua et Kouaoua |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Massif des Lèvres |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Massif du Mé Kanin, Sphinx et Arago |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Massifs du Grand Sud: entre le mont Humboldt et la rivière Bleue |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2, A4ii |
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Mé Maoya |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Pic Ningua |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Prokoméo |
New Caledonia (to France) |
A1, A2 |
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Name |
Location |
Endemic |
Species |
Website |
New Caledonia |
New Caledonia |
Yes |
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Institutions (Zoos, etc.) | MapsAustralia; Attributes / relations provided by ♦ 1Ecology and Conservation of the Kagu
Rhynochetos jubatus of New Caledonia, Gavin Raymond Hunt, 1997, Thesis, Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology at Massey University ♦ 2del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ♦ 3Hamish Wilman, Jonathan Belmaker, Jennifer Simpson, Carolina de la Rosa, Marcelo M. Rivadeneira, and Walter Jetz. 2014. EltonTraits 1.0: Species-level foraging attributes of the world's birds and mammals. Ecology 95:2027 ♦ 4Gibson, D. I., Bray, R. A., & Harris, E. A. (Compilers) (2005). Host-Parasite Database of the Natural History Museum, London Ecoregions provided by World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF). WildFinder: Online database of species distributions, ver. 01.06 WWF WildFINDER |
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