This bird only exists in captivity

DENVER - The Micronesian Kingfisher is native to Guam - well, it was.

This bird, which is the size of a canary, is now extinct in the wild.

Unlike the plight of other threatened and endangered animals, the Micronesian Kingfisher does not have habitat destruction to blame for its extinction. The brown tree snake is to blame.

After World War II, a snake snuck onto a plane headed for Guam.

As the years passed, the brown tree snake multiplied and ate the young kingfisher birds and eggs. That is why the population was wiped out.

In 1984, a group of conservationists went to Guam and gathered some birds.

Only 29 Micronesian Kingfishers were found and brought back to the U.S. to start a breeding program. There are now about 100 Micronesian Kingfishers in zoos in this country.

The Denver Zoo has 3 males. Apparently, there are more males than females in captivity. When there are more females, some will come to the Denver Zoo.

It is tricky to get these birds to breed. Micronesian Kingfishers are very aggressive to each other and other birds. They can and will kill each other. A female bird will decide who she will mate with and when - it's not something the zoo keepers can push.