CR

Marquesas Kingfisher

Todiramphus godeffroyi

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Marquesas Kingfisher faces severe threats from habitat destruction caused by invasive plant species, particularly miconia and strawberry guava, which have transformed native forest ecosystems across the Marquesas Islands. Introduced mammals including feral cats, rats, and pigs pose significant predation pressure on nests and compete for food resources. Climate change exacerbates these pressures through altered precipitation patterns affecting the insect prey base that this specialized kingfisher depends upon.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic kingfisher inhabits native and semi-native forests in valleys and on slopes of the Marquesas Islands, particularly favoring areas with dense canopy cover and abundant insect prey. It requires mature forest habitat with suitable nesting sites in tree cavities or earthen banks.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationAwareness & communications

Other threatened species in ALCEDINIDAE

Sangihe Dwarf-kingfisherCR

Sangihe Dwarf-kingfisher

Ceyx sangirensis

Declining
Tuamotu KingfisherCR

Tuamotu Kingfisher

Todiramphus gambieri

Stable
CR

Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher

Alcedo euryzona

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VU

Bismarck Kingfisher

Ceyx websteri

Declining

Threatened in French Polynesia

EN

Raiatea Fruit-dove

Ptilinopus chrysogaster

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EN

Pocillopora zelli

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White-winged Petrel

Pterodroma leucoptera

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VU

Black Petrel

Procellaria parkinsoni

Stable

Frequently asked questions

Why is Marquesas Kingfisher classified as Critically Endangered?
Marquesas Kingfisher is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Marquesas Kingfisher faces severe threats from habitat destruction caused by invasive plant species, particularly miconia and strawberry guava, which have transformed native forest ecosystems across the Marquesas Islands. Introduced mammals including feral cats, rats, and pigs pose significant predation pressure on nests and compete for food resources. Climate change exacerbates these pressures through altered precipitation patterns affecting the insect prey base that this specialized kingfisher depends upon.
Where does Marquesas Kingfisher live?
Marquesas Kingfisher occurs in French Polynesia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Marquesas Kingfisher?
The main threats to Marquesas Kingfisher are 2.3, 8.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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