For me, this was the highlight of our Western Pacific cruise and one of our main targets. This ghostly forest dweller is found nowhere else on earth. It is listed as endangered with one of the main threats being uncontrolled dogs. In one case, dogs killed 17 out of 21 birds being studied (Hunt et al. 1996). The Kagu's range has contracted since the arrival of Europeans and has become seriously fragmented. This flightless denizen of wet rain-forests has been a taxonomic mystery for decades, appearing to have no close relatives. Formerly classified in the order Gruiformes, recent molecular studies have shown that its nearest living relative is actually the Sunbittern of Middle and South America. They are now grouped in the order Eurypygiformes, but each remains in its own family. See SACC Proposal 451 for details. The genus Rhynochetos refers to curved hair-like feathers that cover the nasal openings. It is from the Greek meaning "nose" and chetos meaning "corn." The specific name jubatus means "maned" or crested. The name "Kagu," is the native name for this species. Canon PowerShot SX60.
References:
BirdLife International 2016. Rhynochetos jubatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22692211A93341677. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22692211A93341677.en. Downloaded on 02 December 2019.
Dutson, G. (2011) Birds of Melanesia, Christopher Helm, London.
Hunt, G. R.; Hay, R.; Veltman, C. J. 1996. Multiple Kagu Rhynochetos jubatus deaths caused by dog attacks at a high-altitude study site on Pic Ningua, New Caledonia. Bird Conservation International 6: 295-306.
Hunt, G.R., Kirwan, G.M. & Sharpe, C.J. (2019). Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53708 on 2 December 2019).
Jobling, JA (2019). Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology . In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, DA & Juana, E. (eds.) (2019). Handbook of Birds of the World Alive . Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from www.hbw.com ).