Cooperative Breeding of the Society Kingfisher (Todiramphus veneratus)

Abstract We present evidence of cooperative breeding in Society Kingfishers (Todiramphus veneratus). Groups of three kingfishers were observed cooperatively excavating nest cavities, incubating, and provisioning young. Three bird groups also comprised half of visual observations recorded during island-wide point transect surveys that occurred during the onset of breeding. Society Kingfisher densities were an order of magnitude greater than other Pacific kingfisher populations, which may lead to resource saturation and evolution of cooperation in this species. Our results lend insight into cooperative behaviors and facilitate conservation of birds in French Polynesia.