Kagu

Overview

The kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus) is a crested, long-legged, and bluish-grey bird endemic to the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia. As the only surviving member of the family Rhynochetidae, it is an almost flightless ground-dweller that has become highly vulnerable to introduced predators.

Identification

• Measures approximately 55 cm in length with bright ash-grey and white plumage that is unusually bright for a forest-floor bird.
• Possesses long, strong, and bright red legs.
• Features unique nasal corns that cover the nostrils, a trait not shared by any other bird species.
• Utilizes a crest for display that is barely noticeable when at rest but can be erected and fanned out.

Habitat

Restricted to the main island of Grande Terre in New Caledonia, the kagu inhabits a variety of forest types, ranging from rainforest to drier lowland forest, and some shrubland associated with ultramafic rocks. It avoids areas with extensive ground cover such as grassland or high fern cover that make foraging difficult. The species has undergone range contraction due to hunting and predation by introduced species.

Diet

Exclusively carnivorous, the kagu feeds primarily on annelid worms, snails, and lizards, along with larvae, spiders, centipedes, and insects. It forages mainly in leaf litter, soil, and vegetation, often standing motionless to watch for moving prey before dashing to strike or using its bill to dig for food. The bird has been reported to engage in worm charming to bring worms to the surface.

Did you know?

The kagu possesses only one-third as many red blood cells and three times more hemoglobin per red blood cell than is usual in birds. Additionally, its name derives from Melanesian languages, where it is also referred to as the 'ghost of the forest' by the Kanak people of New Caledonia.