Todiramphus godeffroyi

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	CORACIIFORMES	ALCEDINIDAE

Scientific Name:

Todiramphus godeffroyi

Species Authority:

(Finsch, 1877)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Marquesan Kingfisher

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2009

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Thibault, J., Ghestemme, T., Raust, P., Gouni, A.

Justification:
This species has been uplisted to Critically Endangered as, following its extinction on Hiva Oa, it is now found on only a single small island on which it is suspected to be declining owing to habitat deterioration and predation.

History:

2008	–	Endangered
2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Todiramphus godeffroyi is endemic to the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, where there were 300-500 pairs on Tahuata in 1975², and more recently 695 birds on the latter island in 2003. It formerly occurred on Hiva Oa, where there were fewer than 50 pairs in 1971 and 1973; it was exceedingly rare on the island in 1990⁴ and was last seen in February 1997 in the Atuona Valley. Searches in 2001, 2004 and 2006 failed to find the species and it is considered extinct on the island^7,9,10,12. Records from Fatu Hiva, Mohotani and Ua Pou are apparently erroneous^2,6.
Countries:	Native: French Polynesia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Estimated at 693 (Gouni 2004)
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Estimated at 693 (Gouni 2004)

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It prefers dense, humid forest along the courses of mountain streams and remote valleys from low to mid altitude, but has also been seen in coconut plantations, on dry slopes covered with mango and Eugenia cuminii trees, and on peaks covered with groves of Casuarina. It has been found nesting in an old mango tree and in a decayed screw-pine trunk. It feeds principally on insects and lizards^1,2,3,11.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

It prefers dense, humid forest along the courses of mountain streams and remote valleys from low to mid altitude, but has also been seen in coconut plantations, on dry slopes covered with mango and Eugenia cuminii trees, and on peaks covered with groves of Casuarina. It has been found nesting in an old mango tree and in a decayed screw-pine trunk. It feeds principally on insects and lizards^1,2,3,11.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Extensive damage has been caused to upland forest by feral cattle, horses, goats, sheep and pigs⁸, and this is causing the continuing decline on Tahuata¹¹. It is thought to have been heavily predated by the introduced Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus on Hiva Oa, and other alien species such as Common Myna Acridotheres tristis and perhaps black rat Rattus rattus (introduced c.1915 on Hiva Oa and present on Tahuata in 1989, but not certain whether it is currently present on the island¹³) may have contributed to the decline¹¹. The introduction of B. virginianus to Tahuata would be disastrous for this species.

Major Threat(s):

Extensive damage has been caused to upland forest by feral cattle, horses, goats, sheep and pigs⁸, and this is causing the continuing decline on Tahuata¹¹. It is thought to have been heavily predated by the introduced Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus on Hiva Oa, and other alien species such as Common Myna Acridotheres tristis and perhaps black rat Rattus rattus (introduced c.1915 on Hiva Oa and present on Tahuata in 1989, but not certain whether it is currently present on the island¹³) may have contributed to the decline¹¹. The introduction of B. virginianus to Tahuata would be disastrous for this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway A survey of the species and its threats on Tahuata is planned for 2009¹². Conservation Actions Proposed Regularly resurvey the species to determine trends. Investigate the status of R. rattus on Tahuata and the impacts caused by this species and A. tristis through competition and predation; consider eradication if sensible. Take all measures possible to ensure that B. virginianus does not colonise Tahutua. Exclude livestock from the remaining intact forest. Consider the possibility of translocation to a nearby island.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
A survey of the species and its threats on Tahuata is planned for 2009¹².

Conservation Actions Proposed
Regularly resurvey the species to determine trends. Investigate the status of R. rattus on Tahuata and the impacts caused by this species and A. tristis through competition and predation; consider eradication if sensible. Take all measures possible to ensure that B. virginianus does not colonise Tahutua. Exclude livestock from the remaining intact forest. Consider the possibility of translocation to a nearby island.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Todiramphus godeffroyi. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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