Rarotonga Monarch
Pomarea dimidiata
The Rarotonga Monarch (Pomarea dimidiata) is a legendary monarch flycatchers, paradise flycatchers, and shrikebill found only in the Cook Islands, weighing about 23 g. The Rarotonga monarch, also known as the Rarotonga flycatcher or kākerōri, is a species of bird in the monarch flycatcher family Monarchidae.
About the Rarotonga Monarch
The Rarotonga monarch, also known as the Rarotonga flycatcher or kākerōri, is a species of bird in the monarch flycatcher family Monarchidae. It is endemic to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, and has been introduced to Atiu, also in the Cook Islands.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Rarotonga monarch is an insectivorous passerine which is 10 cm tall, with an adult mass of 20 grams (0.7 oz) for female birds, and 25 grams (0.9 oz) for large male birds. Hunting mainly consists of foraging for insects within foliage, and occasionally taking insects during flight. The Rarotonga monarch is unusual as its plumage and beak undergoes a sequential colour change as the bird matures. The initial plumage of orange changes to orange-grey mixed, then finally grey when maturity is reached, after four years. Initially, the grey and orange birds were attributed to different species.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Rarotonga Monarch?
- The Rarotonga monarch is an insectivorous passerine which is 10 cm tall, with an adult mass of 20 grams (0.7 oz) for female birds, and 25 grams (0.9 oz) for large male birds. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Rarotonga Monarch?
- The Rarotonga Monarch is a small sized bird weighing about 23 g.
- Where can you see a Rarotonga Monarch?
- The Rarotonga Monarch is endemic to the Cook Islands, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Rarotonga Monarch?
- The Rarotonga Monarch is most easily confused with the Tahiti Monarch, the Fatu Hiva Monarch and the Iphis Monarch.
- Is the Rarotonga Monarch endangered?
- The Rarotonga Monarch is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Rarotonga Monarch for real
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