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.
Region
South Pacific (Cook Islands)
Typical Environment
Naturally confined to native lowland and foothill forests of Rarotonga, especially within the Takitumu Conservation Area where dense native broadleaf forest persists. It has also been established on Atiu, where it uses makatea limestone forest and secondary growth. The species favors shaded interior forest with a tangled understory, using mid-level perches to hunt. Nests are placed on sturdy branches or forks well above ground to avoid predators. Human-assisted management areas are crucial refuges.
Altitude Range
50–300 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Rarotonga flycatcher or kākerōri, this monarch flycatcher rebounded from fewer than 30 birds in the late 1980s thanks to intensive rat control and habitat protection. It remains one of the Cook Islands’ conservation success stories and has been translocated to Atiu to establish a second population. Despite recovery, it remains vulnerable to invasive predators and severe storms. It is culturally significant to local communities involved in its protection.
![A: Orange with yellow in the beak the near head, correlates to less than a year old. B: Orange with Blue/Black beak, correlates to an age of two years.
C: Mixed plumage, with orange wing feathers still present, but with some grey plumage, correlating to about three years old. D: Grey plumage, correlates with an age of four years and older. This is the final plumage stage for the remainder of the bird's lifespan.[4]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Kakerori_Plumage_Aging.jpg/1280px-Kakerori_Plumage_Aging.jpg)
A: Orange with yellow in the beak the near head, correlates to less than a year old. B: Orange with Blue/Black beak, correlates to an age of two years. C: Mixed plumage, with orange wing feathers still present, but with some grey plumage, correlating to about three years old. D: Grey plumage, correlates with an age of four years and older. This is the final plumage stage for the remainder of the bird's lifespan.[4]
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with frequent short sallies
Social Behavior
Typically found as pairs that defend territories year-round. Nests are cup-shaped and placed in trees; clutches are small and both parents care for the young. Some pairs may tolerate grown offspring nearby within the territory. Breeding success improves markedly in areas with predator control.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Clear, whistled phrases repeated from a perch, interspersed with softer contact notes. Alarm calls are sharper scolds when disturbed. The song carries well through dense forest.
Plumage
Warm orange-buff underparts with grey-olive to brownish upperparts and dusky wings and tail; plumage can appear richer in good light. Feathers are smooth and sleek, with subtle contrast between the bright underparts and darker back. Juveniles are duller and more mottled. Sexes are similar, with males often slightly brighter.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects and other small arthropods such as spiders, caterpillars, and beetles. It gleans from foliage and branches and also sallies out to catch flying prey. Foraging is deliberate, with frequent returns to favored perches. Occasional small fruits may be taken but constitute a minor part of the diet.
Preferred Environment
Forages in shaded mid-story and lower canopy of native forest, especially along edges of clearings and along stream gullies. Uses exposed perches inside the forest to scan and launch short sallies. On Atiu, it also forages within makatea forest structure.
