Region

Hawaiian Islands

Typical Environment

Endemic to the central Hawaiian Islands, with strong populations on Hawaiʻi (Big Island) and also present on Maui and Molokaʻi in suitable forest. It occupies a broad range of habitats, including native ʻōhiʻa–koa forests, mesic and wet montane forests, and even degraded or non-native woodlands. The species is unusually tolerant of disease, which permits it to occur from high-elevation refugia down to some lowland areas. It forages widely from canopy to understory and readily uses flowering trees and shrubs around human settlements.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2500 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Temperament

active and inquisitive

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Usually found singly, in pairs, or in small foraging groups; joins mixed-species flocks in productive feeding areas. Breeding pairs are territorial around nest sites, building a small cup nest high in dense foliage. Clutch size is typically small, and both parents contribute to feeding the young.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A lively series of sweet trills, chips, and twittering notes delivered rapidly and repeated frequently. Contact calls are sharp ‘tseek’ or ‘chip’ notes given while foraging.

Diet

Takes nectar from native blossoms such as ʻōhiʻa lehua, also visiting a variety of other flowering plants. Gleans insects and spiders from leaves, bark, and twigs, probing crevices with its curved bill. Will supplement its diet with small fruits and occasionally sap or honeydew when available.

Preferred Environment

Feeds throughout the forest strata, from canopy flowers to understory shrubs. Common around flowering ʻōhiʻa and koa, but also forages in secondary growth, edges, and gardens with suitable blooms.