Guam kingfisher
Status
Extinct in the Wild
Classification
Bird
Exhibit
McNeil Avian Center
Saving the Species
Philadelphia Zoo has been a leader in the conservation of this endangered species since the initiation of the Guam Bird Rescue Project in 1983. Philadelphia Zoo, in conjunction with other U.S. zoos and the Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, captured the remaining 29 birds to establish a species survival breeding population. The Zoo has hatched and reared dozens of Guam kingfishers. We hold several breeding pairs, although most of them live off-exhibit to encourage breeding. The invasive brown tree snake, which likely arrived as stowaways on ships during World War II, decimated this species.
Extinct in the Wild
Before it disappeared on Guam, the Guam kingfisher had a reputation for aggression towards other birds. The Guam kingfisher was not well studied in the wild before it disappeared. However, based on research on related Micronesian kingfisher on other Pacific islands and the behavior of the birds in captivity, Guam kingfishers appear to be highly territorial birds that establish multi-purpose territories year round.
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Adopt a Guam Kingfisher