[3] The Rarotonga monarch is unusual as its plumage and beak undergoes a sequential colour change the bird matures.

The initial plumage of orange changes to orange-grey mixed, then finally grey when maturity is reached, after four years.

[8] These figures are comparable to large Australian passerines like the superb lyrebird or satin bowerbird[9] and more than ten times the life expectancies of similar sized Holarctic songbirds.

[12] Nests are mossy deep cups which are built in the fork of a tree branch, often constructed above creeks, and take about 14 days to build.

[13] In the 1989, the total population was estimated at fewer than 29 birds in the wild, and was critically endangered[15] but has recovered since annual rat bait laying during the breeding season.