Updated: 30.04.2024

The Fatuhiva monarch is a species of flycatcher that only occurs on the island of Fatu Hiva. Introduced predators such as ship rats and cats have almost completely driven it out of the "paradise". The population of the violet-black insectivore, which is about the size of a starling, has currently declined to 20 specimens, including 4 breeding pairs.

The youngest member of this population was hand-raised after being rescued from a nest in danger of collapsing and is now almost able to fly. The rescuers are a team of scientists from Auckland Zoo and the Polynesian Ornithological Society (Société d'Ornithologie de Polynésie), or SOP Manu for short, where "Manu" means "bird" in Polynesian. One of the many other supporters, the Bird Conservation Center at Copenhagen Zoo, brought a feather sample from this chick back to Denmark and sent it from there to our laboratory.

Determining the sex of such a rare bird is a small but important step towards species conservation. The Fatuhiva monarch has a very slow reproductive cycle. These birds only start breeding when they are 2-3 years old and only lay one egg per clutch. The young are raised by both parents for 4-6 months. In order to plan breeding well and efficiently, it is important that pairs are put together early and this is only possible if the sexes are known. Since there is no visual difference (dimorphism) between male and female, DNA sex determination is so important.

We would be very happy if our work could contribute to saving this species!

Source: "Auckland Zoo and the Polynesian Ornithological Society achieve first breakthrough for bird on the brink",

Jane Healy, Auckland Zoo, 05.03.2024

Photo: Benjamin Ignace/SOP Manu