Guam kingfisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guam kingfisher |
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| At Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, D.C. | |
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Todiramphus
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| Species: |
cinnamominus
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The Guam kingfisher (Todiramphus cinnamominus), also known as sihek in the Chamorro language, is a special type of kingfisher bird. It comes from the U.S. Territory of Guam. Sadly, this bird is no longer found living freely in the wild. It now lives only in special captive breeding programs. This happened mainly because of a dangerous animal called the brown tree snake, which was brought to Guam and hunted the kingfishers.
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About the Guam Kingfisher
The Guam kingfisher is a unique bird from the island of Guam. Its scientific name is Todiramphus cinnamominus. In the local Chamorro language, people call it sihek. This bird is part of a larger group of kingfishers found in Micronesia.
What Does It Look Like?
The Guam kingfisher is a medium-sized bird, about 20 to 24 centimeters (8 to 9.5 inches) long. It has bright, beautiful colors! Its back is an iridescent blue, which means it shines with different colors like a rainbow. Its head is a rusty-cinnamon color.
Adult male Guam kingfishers have cinnamon-colored feathers on their bellies. Females and younger birds have white feathers on their undersides. They have large, flat bills and dark legs. When they call, they make a raspy, chattering sound.
Life and Habits
Guam kingfishers are forest birds that live on land, not usually near water like some other kingfishers. They tend to be a bit shy and like to stay hidden in the trees.
Where Do They Live?
In the wild, these kingfishers lived in the forests of Guam. They would make their nests in holes they dug in soft-wooded trees. They also nested in large termite nests found in trees.
What Do They Eat?
The Guam kingfisher is a hunter! In the wild, it eats many different small creatures. Its diet includes Insects, Spiders, Lizards, and small crustaceans (like crabs). These birds hunt by diving down from a perch to catch their prey on the ground. This is similar to how some other kingfishers dive for fish in water.
Reproduction and Family Life
Guam kingfishers are very dedicated parents. A male and female pair will defend their territory all year round. They often live in family groups, with both parents taking care of their young. Sometimes, their older offspring stay with them for a longer time, helping to raise new chicks.
Protecting the Guam Kingfisher
The story of the Guam kingfisher is a sad one, but also a hopeful one. It shows how important it is to protect animals from new dangers.
Why Are They in Danger?
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The Guam kingfisher disappeared from its natural home because of the brown tree snake. This snake is not native to Guam; it was accidentally brought to the island. The snakes hunted the kingfishers, and the birds had no natural defenses against them. The last time a Guam kingfisher was seen living freely in the wild was in 1986. Because of this, the U.S. government has listed the bird as endangered.
Bringing Them Back
Today, the Guam kingfisher only survives in special breeding programs. As of 2017, there were fewer than 200 of these birds living in zoos and special facilities in the U.S. mainland and on Guam. Scientists and conservationists are working hard to help these birds.
One big step was to reintroduce some Guam kingfishers to Palmyra Atoll. This is an island far away from Guam where there are no brown tree snakes. In September 2024, nine Guam kingfishers were moved from several zoos, including the Brookfield Zoo and Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, and released on Cooper Island in Palmyra Atoll.
This reintroduction has been a success! The introduced population began breeding, and the first eggs were seen in April 2025. These were the first Guam kingfisher eggs laid in the wild in over 40 years! There are also hopes that one day, if Guam can be made safe from the brown tree snake, these amazing birds might be able to return to their native home.
See also
In Spanish: Alción micronesio para niños
