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Kagu Rhynochetos jubatus

IUCN Red List Criteria

Critically Endangered  
Endangered B1ab(iii,iv,v);C2a(i) 
Vulnerable B1ab(iii,iv,v);C2a(i);D1 

IUCN Red List history

Year Category
2012 Endangered
2008 Endangered
2004 Endangered
2000 Endangered
1996 Endangered
1994 Endangered
1988 Threatened

Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency High
Land mass type   Average mass -

Distribution

  Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) 1,300 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Fragmentation -

Population & trend

  Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
No. of mature individuals 250-999 medium Estimated 2000
Population trend Stable medium -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -
Largest subpopulation 51-250 - - -
Generation length (yrs) 15 - - -
Population justification: The total population is placed in the band 250-999 mature individuals, equating to 375-1,499 individuals in total, rounded here to 350-1,500 individuals.
Trend justification: Thanks to new field studies (Chartendrault and Barré 2005, 2006) and oral information, it appears that kagus are still present in most of the areas surveyed by Hunt in 1992. Chartendrault and Barré found, between 2003 and 2006, that kagus were present on 36 of 82 surveyed massifs (44%) and populations seem to be stable or even increasing in the southern province, although they may be declining or stable in the North. In the Mont Do and Nakada area ('Entre les monts Do et Nakada' IBA), Hunt found 135 birds over 14 point counts. Chartendrault found 113 birds in the same area (different points) in 2005 over only 7 points (Chartendrault and Barré 2005, 2006). Rats and cats may affect the population, although there are currently no proven records of this. Hunting dogs are the main threat to the species, which particularly affect populations in unprotected areas outside of Riviere Bleue. However, hunting activity (particularly with dogs) is decreasing in some areas, allowing birds to recolonize (R. Gula and J. Theuerkauf in litt. 2012).

Country/Territory distribution

Country/Territory Occurrence status Extinct Breeding Non-breeding Passage
New Caledonia (to France) Native No      

Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria

Country/Territory IBA Name IBA link
New Caledonia (to France) Aoupinié site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Boulinda site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Bwa Opana site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Dent de Saint-Vincent site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Entre les monts Cidoa et Bwa Bwi site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Entre les monts Nakada et Do site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Entre les monts Rembaï et Canala site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Entre Table Unio et Farino site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Forêt Plate site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Goro Até et haute vallée de la rivière Tchamba site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Goro Jé et haute vallée de la rivière Amoa site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Grand Koum site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Hautes vallées des rivières Néaoua, Koua et Kouaoua site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Massif du Mé Kanin, Sphinx et Arago site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Massifs du Grand Sud - entre le mont Humboldt et la rivière Bleue site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Mé Maoya site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Pic Ningua site factsheet
New Caledonia (to France) Prokoméo site factsheet

Habitats & altitude

Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Moist suitable resident
Altitude 100 - 1400 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & Aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops / Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Decline Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Energy production & mining Mining & quarrying Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Decline Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources / Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Decline Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression / Trend Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Decline Medium Impact:
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / Domestic Cat (Felis catus) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / Domestic Dog (Canis familiaris) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Decline Medium Impact:
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / Domestic Pig (Sus domesticus) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Decline Medium Impact:
Stresses
Species mortality
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / Javan Rusa (Rusa timorensis) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Decline Medium Impact:
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases / Unspecified micro-organisms Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Species mortality

Utilisation

Purpose Primary form used Life stage used Source Scale Level Timing
Food (human) Whole Adults and juveniles Wild Subsistence, National Non-trivial Historical
Pets Whole Adults and juveniles Wild International Trivial Recent

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Rhynochetos jubatus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.

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.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Endangered
Family Rhynochetidae (Kagu)
Species name author Verreaux & Des Murs, 1860
Population size 250-999 mature individuals
Population trend Stable
Distribution size (breeding/resident) 1,300 km2
Country endemic? Yes
Links to further information
- Summary information on this species