Alternative names: Fatu Hiva Flycatcher; Large Flycatcher; Large Monarch
- Pomarea whitneyi
Identification
19cm, a large flycatcher.
- Glossy purplish-black plumage, blacker-looking on forehead
- Dark brown eye
- Greyish-blue bill
- Slate-coloured legs
Sexes similar.
Immatures have dull brown upperparts, more rufous on wings and buffy white underparts with a rufous tinge on face, neck and breast side.
Distribution
Endemic to Fatuhiva in the Marquesas Islands.
An extremly rare restricted-range species. Threatened with extinction by the arrival of Black Rats in 2000 and invasion of forest by non-native plant species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Found in dense native forest and wooded thicket. Mainly in main valley and small ravines.
Occurs from 50m to 700m, some non-breeders even up to 775m.
Behaviour
A very shy and retiring species.
Diet
Feeds on insects and spiders. Takes also seeds.
Forages by jumping from branch to branch in active searching for food among the vegetation. Rarely flycatches on the wing.
Breeding
No information. Breeding season presumably from December to April.
Movements
A sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2006. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553064
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Fatuhiva Monarch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Fatuhiva_Monarch
