Kagu, << KAH goo, >> is a rare, long-legged forest bird. It lives only in remote areas on the island of New Caledonia, an overseas possession of France in the South Pacific Ocean. The bird has mostly white and light-gray plumage, with a crown of feathers on its head. It has an orange-red bill, orange-red legs, and large, dark red eyes. An adult grows about 22 inches (55 centimeters) long. The kagu’s name comes from its loud call.
Kagus cannot fly except for short descending glides. They live almost exclusively on the ground, in environments with dense underbrush. The birds become particularly active around dawn, when their calls can be heard over 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) away. Kagus eat mostly insects, lizards, snails, and worms. They can use their long, powerful beaks to dig up food underground. Horny sheaths partially cover the nostrils, protecting them when the kagu digs for food.
During courtship, both the male and female kagu raise their crown of feathers. They then perform a dance during which they walk quickly around each other and bob up and down. Females typically lay a single egg, and both parents take turns incubating the egg. Kagus once lived throughout New Caledonia. But human activities and such introduced predators as cats, dogs, and rats have killed off most of the kagu population.
