Mangareva kingfisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mangareva kingfisher |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Todiramphus
|
| Species: |
gambieri
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Mangareva kingfisher (Todiramphus gambieri) is a special kind of kingfisher bird. It's also called the Tuamotu kingfisher. This bird is only found on Niau Island in French Polynesia. Sadly, it is critically endangered, which means it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
Contents
What Does the Mangareva Kingfisher Look Like?
The Mangareva kingfisher is a beautiful bird. It has a creamy-white head and neck. It has blue feathers near its ears. Its chin is white. Often, it has a reddish-brown band across its chest. The top of its head can have different amounts of blue feathers. Its back, wings, and tail are all blue.
Where Does the Mangareva Kingfisher Live?
This kingfisher lives only on Niau Island. Niau is part of the Tuamotus islands in French Polynesia. It likes places that are partly open. This includes coconut farms, forests made of limestone, and gardens near villages. Sometimes, it looks for food in wet areas or near the coast.
How Does the Mangareva Kingfisher Live?
Hunting and Food
Like many kingfishers, the Mangareva kingfisher hunts from a high spot. It waits on a branch or other raised place. It especially likes to hunt in coconut farms. These farms often have open ground below. The kingfisher eats insects and small lizards. Lizards are the main food for its baby chicks.
Reproduction and Nests
Mangareva kingfishers usually breed from September to January. They make their nests inside dead or rotting coconut palm trees. They dig out holes in these trees to create a safe place for their eggs and chicks.
Why is the Mangareva Kingfisher Endangered?
The number of Mangareva kingfishers has always been quite small. Their population has changed a lot over the years. In 1974, there were about 400 to 600 birds. But by 2003 and 2004, the number dropped to only 39 to 51 birds. Luckily, it went up to 135 birds in 2009.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says this bird is critically endangered. This is because there are so few of them. Also, they only live in a very small area.
Main Threats to the Kingfisher
Several things make it hard for the Mangareva kingfisher to survive:
- Cats: Cats can hunt and kill young birds in their nests.
- Rats: Rats compete with the kingfishers for food.
- Nesting Trees: There aren't enough old coconut palm trees. These are the trees the kingfishers need to build their nests.
- Habitat Changes: The kingfisher likes open areas that are cleared by burning. This practice is not done as much anymore. This means there are fewer good hunting spots for them.
