Guam kingfisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guam kingfisher |
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| A male Guam kingfisher at the Bronx Zoo. | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Todiramphus
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| Species: |
cinnamominus
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The Guam kingfisher (Todiramphus cinnamominus) is a beautiful reddish-orange bird. It has bright blue wings. This bird is about the same size as a North American robin. Sadly, the Guam kingfisher is one of the rarest birds on Earth. Almost all of them live in special care, like zoos. There, experts are working hard to help them have babies. Scientists think there are only about 140 Guam kingfishers left. This bird is a special type of kingfisher. Its close relative, the Micronesian kingfisher, is now extinct.
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Meet the Guam Kingfisher
The Guam kingfisher is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to the kingfisher family. These birds are known for their bright feathers. They also have long, strong beaks. The Guam kingfisher's feathers are mostly a warm orange color. Its wings are a striking blue. This makes it easy to spot!
Where Did They Live?
Guam kingfishers used to live only on the island of Guam. Guam is a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of Micronesia. These birds loved to live in the thick forests there. They would perch on branches. They would watch for their next meal.
What Do They Eat?
Guam kingfishers are skilled hunters. They mostly eat insects. They also enjoy small lizards. Sometimes, they might even catch tiny crabs. They use their strong beaks to grab their food. They are very quick when they hunt.
Why Are They So Rare?
The Guam kingfisher is an endangered species. This means it is in danger of disappearing forever. The main reason for this is a sneaky snake. This snake is called the brown tree snake.
The Brown Tree Snake Problem
The brown tree snake is not from Guam. It arrived on the island by accident. This happened after World War II. The snake had no natural enemies on Guam. So, its numbers grew very fast. These snakes are very good at climbing trees. They hunt birds and their eggs. The Guam kingfisher was an easy target. The snakes ate so many kingfishers. Soon, the birds almost vanished from the wild.
Helping the Guam Kingfisher Survive
People are working hard to save the Guam kingfisher. They want to make sure these beautiful birds do not become extinct.
Breeding Programs
Most Guam kingfishers now live in zoos. These zoos are in places like the United States. Experts at these zoos have special breeding programs. They help the birds have babies. This is very important. It helps increase the number of kingfishers. The goal is to have enough birds. Then, some can be released back into the wild.
Protecting Their Home
Scientists are also trying to control the brown tree snake. They want to make Guam safe again for birds. This is a big challenge. But it is important for the future of the Guam kingfisher. They hope one day these birds can fly free on Guam again.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Guam kingfishers build their nests in tree holes. Both the male and female birds help. They take turns sitting on the eggs. They also both feed the baby birds. The little kingfishers grow quickly. They soon learn to fly and hunt on their own.
See also
In Spanish: Alción micronesio para niños
