- Scientific Name: Pomarea iphis Murphy & Mathews, 1928
- Polynesian Names: Pati’oti’o (adulte, Ua Huka) ; Kotiotio (jeune, Ua Huka)
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Monarchidae
- Category: Endemic Birds
Apearance and identification
7 inches. Old males are entirely black. They are generally white and black. The front of the body is black and the back is spotted with white on the rump, under the tail, belly and under the wings. Younger males are creamy white and their plumage darkens gradually, starting with the head and black spots appear on the chest. Females are brown-grey above, cream below, sometimes with a darker head. The legs and beak of the adults are black and brown.
Videos
Voice
Characteristics
Once present on Ua Huka and Eiao, the species is extinct in Eiao where the black rat was introduced long ago.
The nest is built from 3 to 15 m above the ground. A two noisy young are given birth to. Many young individuals were present in May to Ua Huka a few years in a row. Reproduction continues until November, which remains to be confirmed.
Cocoteraies et régions boisées de 0 à 700 m d’altitude.
Screams sometimes at visitors who cross its territory “pi, pi-a, pi, pi-a, pi, pi-a”, also emits two successive metallic notes, which descends and goes up “tui-ti, tui-ti … “or” trii-i, trii-i “repeated 4-5 times in a row corresponding to its territorial call. We can also distinguishes a “pi-uh, uh-pi, pi-pi … uh-uh, uh-ft” weaker than the cry of alarm.
Insects.
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Location
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Once present on Ua Huka and Eiao, the species is extinct in Eiao where the black rat was introduced long ago.
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Breeding
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The nest is built from 3 to 15 m above the ground. A two noisy young are given birth to. Many young individuals were present in May to Ua Huka a few years in a row. Reproduction continues until November, which remains to be confirmed.
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Habitat
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Cocoteraies et régions boisées de 0 à 700 m d’altitude.
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Voice
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Screams sometimes at visitors who cross its territory “pi, pi-a, pi, pi-a, pi, pi-a”, also emits two successive metallic notes, which descends and goes up “tui-ti, tui-ti … “or” trii-i, trii-i “repeated 4-5 times in a row corresponding to its territorial call. We can also distinguishes a “pi-uh, uh-pi, pi-pi … uh-uh, uh-ft” weaker than the cry of alarm.
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Food
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Insects.
Status and protection
The species is vulnerable to extinction. It survives only on the island of Ua Huka where the introduction of black rats would lead to its gradual but irreversible extinction. This is a very serious threat to consider because Ua Huka is the last inhabited island of the Marquesas not yet colonized by this rodent. But the development of transport without proper preventive measures accentuates this risk every day. This is regrettable because Ua Huka also has the last viable population of the Ultramarine Lorikeet, Vini ultramarina, species similarly unable to survive on an island where the black rat was established.
The species is listed in category A, the list of species protected by the territorial regulations of French Polynesia.
It is classified as “Endangered” (EN) on the France and Polynesia 2015 IUCN Red List but « Critically Endangered » (CR) on the IUCN Red List.
Original text by Caroline BLANVILLAIN – Supplements and update by various members of the SOP Manu.