Kagu

카구

A flightless forest bird found only in New Caledonia. It has pale blue-grey plumage, an orange bill and legs, and a swept-back crest. Pairs call to each other at dawn with loud, dog-like barks.

See it on the 3D globe →

At a glance

Class: Birds
Lives in: Forests of New Caledonia
Diet: Meat eater (carnivore)
Weight: about 0.9 kg
Length: about 0.55 m
Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN EN)
Habitat: rainforests, forests

Quick answers

Where does the Kagu live?

It lives in rainforests, forests. On the globe you can find it near Forests of New Caledonia.

How big is the Kagu?

It grows to about 0.55 m and 0.9 kg.

What does the Kagu eat?

Its diet: meat eater (carnivore).

Is the Kagu endangered?

It is listed as Endangered (IUCN EN).

The kagu is a crested, long-legged, bluish-grey bird found only in the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia. It is about 55 centimetres long and almost flightless. It is the only living member of its genus and of its own family, and it is the national bird of New Caledonia.

It spends most of its time on or near the ground, hunting small animals without a backbone such as worms and insects. Its nostrils are covered by small flaps called nasal corns, which no other bird has. The kagu is listed as Endangered because animals brought by people hunt it.

Family and nest

Kagu pairs build a nest of sticks on the forest floor and lay a single egg. Both parents take turns sitting on the egg and then raising the chick. At dawn, pairs call to each other with loud, dog-like barks, as the globe card explains. The name kagu comes from the Melanesian names for the bird, and the French spelling is cagou.

A puzzling relative

For a long time scientists were not sure what the kagu was related to. It is now usually grouped with the cranes and their relatives, and recent studies suggest its closest living relative is the sunbittern of Central and South America. A second species is known only from fossils. Dogs, cats and rats that were introduced to the island are the main danger, so it is protected in reserves.

Fun facts

It is almost flightless and is the national bird of New Caledonia, the only place it lives.
The kagu is the only bird with nasal corns.
It is almost flightless and lives only in New Caledonia.
Pairs greet each other at dawn with dog-like barks.