Rarotonga Monarch

Pomarea dimidiata (Hartlaub & Finsch, 1871)

Rarotonga Monarch, Pomarea dimidiata, is a passerine of the monarch family found on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, with an introduced population on Atiu in the southern Cook Islands. It was first described by Hartlaub and Finsch in 1871. The bird is notable for its age-related change in plumage and bill, beginning in orange, passing through a mixed orange-grey stage, and becoming grey at maturity after four years. It was once thought that the different colour forms were separate birds or sex-based forms, but they are now known to reflect age.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Monarchidae — Monarchs

Breeding range

Pacific Ocean: Rarotonga; introduced Atiu (se Cook Is., e Polynesia)