Alternatvie names: Marquesan Monarch; Mendoza Monarch; Hivaoa Monarch
- Pomarea mendozae
Identification
17cm. A dull-coloured flycatcher.
Male
- Black plumage
- Dark eye
- Pale blue bill
- Dark legs
Female
- Black head
- White body and tail with pinkish-buff tinge on underparts
- Black wings with broad white feather edges
Immatures with whitish lores and eyering, orange-buff head, brown mantle and wings, orange-buff wingbars, orange wash on breast and flanks and whitish belly.
Distribution
Endemic to the island of Mohotani, in Marquesas Islands.
A rare restricted-range species. In 2005 the population was estimated at 200 birds. Threats are overgrazing of habitat by sheep and predation by cats and Pacific Rats.
The nominate subspecies was last seen in 1975. It's loss may be caused by introduced Great Horned Owl and introduced Common Myna.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies recognized:1
- P. m. mendozae formerly on Hiva Oa and Tahuata, extinct
- P. m. motanensis on Mohotani Island
Ua Pou Monarch and Nuku Hiva Monarch were formerly considered conspecific with this species.
Habitat
Found in forests at high elevations and in degraded forest elsewhere.
Presumed to have preferred lowland forest in the past, which is now largely destroyed.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects.
Forages at all forest levels, often seen in sunlit areas among dead leaves.
Breeding
Breeding season presumably throughout year. Defends its territory aggressively. The nest is placed 4 to 20m above ground on the sunny side of a native tree. Lays 1 or 2 eggs.
Movements
A sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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) Marquesas Monarch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Marquesas_Monarch
