The Kagu, scientifically Rynochetos jubatus is the only family member of Rhynochtidae surviving. It is a blue-grayish and long-legged bird that is largely found with the densely forested areas of the New Caledonia. This is a bird that almost has no flight and builds its nests made of sticks and lays a single egg. Since it has shown vulnerability to the introduction of predators, it is threatened with obvious extinction. It has remote habitats and since it is a very rare species, very little is known about its basic habits.

Classification

The Kagu has affinities that were never resolved that well. It is believed to be one of those largely enigmatic birds that are associated with Gruiformes. There were times it was put in the Ardeidae family since it’s powdered down, while some morphology has suggested an affinity with Ardeidae and also DNA hybridization information. However, there is a scant of recent data strengthening this fact.

In the light of Gruiformes, Kagu is mostly seen as related to adzebills Aptornithidae that are extinct and from New Zealand, as well as Sunbitterns from Southern America. Some recent studies however have hinted the Sunbittern is perhaps Kagu’s closest relative in existence. Other close associations as remote as they might be include traditional Gruiformes, such as flamingoes, grebes, doves, hoartzin, sandgrouse and tropic birds. However, this structure has not been succinctly resolved by data and does contain lots of groupings that have been termed as obsolete.

Behavior

Kagu is largely a carnivorous bird that feeds on many types of animal, where lizards, snails and annelid warms are the popular preyed animals. It also feeds on spiders, larvae, centipedes, insects such as beetles, bugs and grasshoppers. A rather huge part of the Kagu diet is largely gathered from the soil or leaf litters, while some other juicy preys are found within the surrounding vegetation, rocks and below old logs.

There are certain occasions that you might find the Kagu hunting small animal preys within shallow water. They have a rather unique way of hunting, where they stand motionless upon the ground or from a rather elevated perch as they silently watch the moving prey. Sometimes they stand by one foot as the other moves the old leaf litter in an act of flushing out the prey.

Kagu Breeding

In terms of the breading patterns of the Kagu, they are quite unique and interesting. Their nests are not that concealed but largely found stuck adjacently to tree trunks, low vegetation or logs. They lay one egg, grayish and blotched slightly, weighing between 60 to 75g. The duties surrounding the incubation are equally shared by the two parents. Each of the parental Kagu incubates the egg for about a day while the change is around midday everyday, lasting for about 33 to 37 ample days and quite long in comparison with the egg size. In case of raising the chicks, the pairs are aided by their older offspring who might just remain within the territory of their parents for some years prior to fledgling.