Justification This species is listed as Critically Endangered because it is restricted to an extremely small range on a single island, within which the quality of habitat has been reduced as cyclones have caused the loss of suitable nesting trees. Any potential change in land management within this tiny range could prove catastrophic for the species.

Family/Sub-family Alcedinidae

Species name author (Oustalet, 1895)

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Synonyms Halcyon gambieri Collar and Andrew (1988), Todirhamphus gambieri Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Todirhamphus gambieri Collar et al. (1994)

Identification Buffy-cream head and neck. Variable amount of blue feathers on crown. Creamy-white forehead and broad, buffy neck-band. Dusky blue ear-coverts. White chin and underparts, often with rufous band across upper breast. Blue mantle, back, rump, wings and tail.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

125

stable

26 km²

Yes

Range & population Todiramphus gambieri is confined to the island of Niau in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, where the race niauensis was represented by 400-600 birds in 1974, and reported as common in 1990; the nominate gambieri having become extinct on Mangareva, Gambier Islands, probably prior to 1922^2,4,5. Surveys in 2003 and 2004 estimated the total population as 39-51 individuals, significantly lower than previously supposed^7,8, but surveys in 2006-2008 suggested that the total population had remained relatively stable at around 125 individuals^10,11,12.

Ecology: This species prefers semi-open coconut plantation habitats^10,11, limestone forests, and cultivated areas around villages, and readily uses Niau's ephemeral wetlands and ocean coasts for foraging. Breeding is from September to January in nest cavities excavated from dead and decaying coconut palms. It feeds on insects (e.g. small coleoptera) and small lizards, and excavates nest-cavities in dead coconut trees (thus its choice of nest-site is limited)^2,9,10,11,. The main food source for chicks is lizards¹⁰.

Threats Competition for food resources with rats may pose a threat to the breeding success of this species^7,8,10,11. The removal of suitable nesting trees in 1984, following a hurricane in 1983, has reduced the availability of nesting sites^7,8,10,11. The principal threat to young birds may be predation by feral cats^10,11.

Conservation measures underway Niau is included in the Fakarava Man and Biosphere Protected Area⁶. A project studying the species's ecology, behaviour and movements took place in 2006, 2007, and again in September-November 2008. The entire island was thoroughly surveyed for the birds, which were colour-ringed and radio-tagged to track movements, nesting success and survival. Additional genetic studies have taken place to evaluate heritage and genetic variability that may impact survival. Additionally, a cooperative program to protect nesting habitat was started with resident coconut farmers and an endangered species education program was initiated in the Niau primary school.

Conservation measures proposed Research the impact of rats on kingfisher survival and reproduction. Provide nest boxes to increase the availability of nest-sites⁸ . Consider the possible reintroduction of birds to Mangareva island or the establishment of a second supplementary population elsewhere^1,10.

References 1. Fry et al. (1992). 2. Holyoak and Thibault (1984). 3. Nitchen and Knowles (1995). 4. Seitre and Seitre (1991). 5. Seitre and Seitre (1992). 6. P. Raust in litt. (1999). 7. Gouni and Sanford (2003). 8. Gouni et al. (2004). 9. Gouni et al. (2007). 10.Gouni et al. (2006). 11. Gouni and Zysman (2007). 12. D. Kessler in litt. (2008, 2009).

Text account compilers Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International), Sue Shutes (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Anne Gouni (Société d'Ornithologie de Polynésie "Manu"), Dylan Kesler (University of Missouri-St. Louis), Philippe Raust (Société d'Ornithologie de Polynésie "Manu")

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Todiramphus gambieri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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