- Scientific Name: Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766)
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Pycnonotidae
- Category: Introduced Birds
- Distribution: Asie (native) / Society
Apearance and identification
4 inches. Male and female are identical in appearance. It’s a little sparrow with red on the eye patch and the beak. The rest of the body is buff-brown, finely barred with black, the belly is slightly pink. The wings have darker tones. The feathers are black when adult, pink brown when young. The beak is black until the first moult.
Videos
Voice
Characteristics
Species native of Asia and introduced in the seventies in Tahiti. It is now present in Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine and Raiatea.
Has been studied in Fiji especially where it breeds from October to February, during the rainy season. This period appears to correspond to what was found on the island of Tahiti. Lays 1-3 eggs with little pinkish reddish brown stains on the wider end, (1 x 0.5 inches). Incubation lasts 11-13 days and the young birds takes off in the 12th day.
It has colonized very quickly all the existing areas on the island of Tahiti, from the seaside to the valleys, it is now present even in the cloud forests.
“pit pou, wit-wu” or “Pouit-pou” repeated several times. The species makes many other vocalizations.
Insects, fruits, plant debris.
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Location
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Species native of Asia and introduced in the seventies in Tahiti. It is now present in Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine and Raiatea.
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Breeding
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Has been studied in Fiji especially where it breeds from October to February, during the rainy season. This period appears to correspond to what was found on the island of Tahiti. Lays 1-3 eggs with little pinkish reddish brown stains on the wider end, (1 x 0.5 inches). Incubation lasts 11-13 days and the young birds takes off in the 12th day.
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Habitat
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It has colonized very quickly all the existing areas on the island of Tahiti, from the seaside to the valleys, it is now present even in the cloud forests.
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Voice
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“pit pou, wit-wu” or “Pouit-pou” repeated several times. The species makes many other vocalizations.
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Food
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Insects, fruits, plant debris.
Status and protection
Introduced species. Responsible for destruction of orchards, it is very aggressive with endemic birds including the Tahiti Monarch which is in Critical danger of extinction, it attacks the males and probably the nests.
The species was classified harmful in French Polynesia, its destruction is permitted and desirable. Not to introduce into a new island under any circumstances and eliminate as soon as possible. The species is on the list of species threatening biodiversity through territorial regulatory French Polynesia. It is “Least Concern” (LC) on the IUCN Red List and is ranked by this organization among the 100 most invasive species on the planet.
https://inpn.mnhn.fr/espece/cd_nom/432746/tab/statut
Texte original de Caroline BLANVILLAIN – Compléments et mise à jour par divers membres de la SOP Manu.