The Eiao monarch is an extinct species of bird in the family Monarchidae. The species is sometimes considered to have been conspecific with the Iphis monarch. It was endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitats were subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.
Region
Marquesas Islands
Typical Environment
Formerly restricted to Eiao Island, where it occupied subtropical to tropical dry and moist lowland forests and shrublands. It likely foraged in the understory and mid-canopy and used dense thickets or ravines as refugia. Extensive habitat degradation from feral sheep and goats converted much of the forest to eroded scrub. By the time of its disappearance, it was probably confined to the least disturbed patches.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Eiao monarch was a small monarch flycatcher endemic to Eiao in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. It is widely regarded as extinct, with the last confirmed records from the 1970s. Habitat destruction from overgrazing by introduced livestock and predation by invasive rats likely drove its decline. It has sometimes been considered conspecific with the Iphis monarch.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with sallying from perches
Social Behavior
Typically observed singly or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Likely formed monogamous pairs that defended small territories. Nests in related Pomarea are open cups placed in shrubs or small trees, and this species probably followed a similar pattern.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Presumed to have simple whistles and chattering calls typical of island monarch flycatchers. Vocalizations likely served for pair contact and territory defense.
Plumage
Sexually dimorphic; males mostly dark, sooty to blackish with a subtle gloss, females warm brown to rufous with paler underparts.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods such as insects and spiders, gleaned from leaves, branches, and twigs. It likely also made short sallies to catch flying insects. Foraging behavior would have emphasized careful, methodical gleaning in dense foliage.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in understory to mid-canopy of forest, shrubland edges, and thickets. Remnant native vegetation and ravines would have offered the best foraging substrates as habitats deteriorated.
