Lowland Kagu

The Lowland Kagu (Rhynochetos orarius) is a large, extinct species of kagu. It was endemic to the island of New Caledonia in Melanesia in the south-west Pacific region.

Etymology

The name kagu is derived from the Melanesian names for the species. The species is variously known as the kavu or kagou in the Kanak languages, and as the cagou in French (also used as an alternative spelling in English).

Singular: kagu, cagou
Plural: kagu (formal), kagus (informal, obsolete), cagou (formal), cagous (informal, obsolete)

Physical Appearance

The lowland and highland kagu share a lot of similarities in the general proportions of their numerous bones. Their differences include the extinct species' increased size, which is on average 15% larger, the lack of hindlimb overlap, and the infrequent overlap of wing parts. According to the describers, kagu was lowland in the past and highland in the present.

The lowland kagu has large eyes, positioned so that they give good binocular vision which is helpful in finding prey in the leaf litter and seeing in the gloom of the forest. Its 'nasal corns' are a unique feature not shared with any other bird. These are presumed to prevent particles entering the nostrils when probing in soil during feeding.

Abilities

They hunt by standing still on the ground or from a high perch and discreetly keeping an eye out for any moving prey. To flush prey, kagu may stand on one foot and use the other foot to gently shift the leaf litter. Once they have discovered their victim, they will either run towards it from where they are watching or approach it and stand over it, poised to attack. The feet of a kagu are not employed to dig or scrape away trash; instead, the bill is utilized if digging is necessary to retrieve the prey.

Weather Phenomenon

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Ecology

The kagu is exclusively carnivorous, feeding on a variety of animals, with annelid worms, snails and lizards being amongst the most important prey items. Also taken are larvae, spiders, centipedes and insects, such as grasshoppers, bugs, and beetles. It's been reported to engage in worm charming in order to bring worms to the surface.

The majority of the diet is obtained from the leaf litter or soil, with other prey items found in vegetation, old logs and rocks. Sometimes kagus will hunt small animals in shallow water. Their hunting technique is to stand motionless on the ground or from an elevated perch, and silently watch for moving prey. They may stand on one foot and gently move the leaf litter with the other foot in order to flush prey. Having located prey they will move towards the prey and stand over it, ready to strike, or make a dash towards the prey from their watching location. If digging is required to obtain the prey this is done with the bill, the feet are not used to dig or scratch away debris.

As a significant soil predator that affects invertebrate populations and aids in soil aeration during feeding, this bird played an ecological significance.

Reproduction

Kagu are very protective of their yearly lands, which range from 10 to 28 hectares (25 to 69 acres). Families consisting of one breeding female and one to three breeding males make up their clan-based social structure. Additionally, male children support their parents' territorial claims. However, dog assaults have recently caused disruptions to Kagu's social organization.

Non-fraternal polyandrous behavior has been observed in cases when either the breeding male or the female has been murdered. Although it is uncommon in birds, cooperative and unrelated polyandry has been observed in species including Tasmanian nativehens and dunnocks.

Marriage: Monogamous, often forming long-term pair bonds.
Breeding season: typically August–January.
Nest: The kagu had a simple scrape on the ground, this nest often under vegetation or rocks.
Clutch size: 1 egg (very low reproductive rate).
Incubation: ~30–35 days, being shared by both parents,
Chick: This bird was precocial (able to walk shortly after hatching) and it stays with parents for many months.
Low reproduction makes the species especially vulnerable to population decline.

Behavior

Although kagu birds don't usually act aggressively, they can be defensive and territorial, particularly when defending their territory or young.

Cause of Extinction

Instead, they proposed that there was only one kagu species in the Holocene of New Caledonia, the lowland kagu, which decreased in average size after human colonization as a result of hunters and introduced predators like dogs favoring the capture of larger animals.

Distribution and Habitat

Subfossil bones discovered at the Pindai Caves paleontological site on the west coast of Grande Terre in New Caledonia were used to describe it. As a habitat generalist, the kagu can survive in a range of forest types, including rain forests and drier lowland forests, as long as there is a enough supply of prey. They can also feed in some of the drier shrubland associated with the island's ultramafic rocks, but not in the poorest, low-prey shrubland of this type.

Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant
Individual Type: Solo
Population Trend: Stable
Population: 0
Locomotion: Terrestrial
Habitat: Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.
Earth:
- Extinct: New Caledonia