Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio

The Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio, also Hawaiian ʻelepaio, is a monarch flycatcher found on the Big Island of Hawaii. Until 2010, all three ʻelepaio species, the Kauaʻi ʻelepaio, the Oʻahu ʻelepaio and this species were considered conspecific.

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Distribution

Region

Hawaiian Islands

Typical Environment

Occurs only on the Island of Hawaiʻi, where it inhabits native forests dominated by ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) and koa (Acacia koa). It uses wet and mesic forests as well as patches of drier woodland and forest edges, provided there is sufficient native understory and barky substrates for foraging. Birds are most common in mid-elevation forests but can persist in lower elevations where disease pressure is reduced. It readily occupies a mosaic of native forest, old lava flows with regenerating vegetation, and riparian corridors.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2000 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size14–16 cm

Wing Span20–24 cm

Male Weight0.017 kg

Female Weight0.016 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio is a small, bold monarch flycatcher endemic to the Island of Hawaiʻi. In Hawaiian tradition it was an aumakua (guardian) of canoe builders, said to help select sound koa trees. It often fans its tail and closely inspects visitors, making it one of the more approachable native forest birds. Once grouped with the Kauaʻi and Oʻahu ʻelepaio, it is now recognized as a separate species.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

bold, curious, and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with agile sallies

Social Behavior

Typically found in pairs that defend territories year-round; monogamous with strong pair bonds. Nests are cup-shaped and placed on horizontal branches or forks, often in ʻōhiʻa or koa. Adults frequently fan and flick the tail while foraging and when approaching intruders.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A varied series of sharp chips, whistles, and short trills delivered frequently, especially at dawn. Scolding call notes are given in rapid sequences when alarmed or when closely inspecting intruders.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Hawaiian coot

The 'ʻAlae keʻokeʻo, also known as the Hawaiian coot in English, is a bird in the rail family, Rallidae, that is endemic to Hawaiʻi. In Hawaiian, ʻalae is a noun and means mud hen. Kea or its synonym keo is an adjective for white. It is similar to the American coot at 33–40.6 cm (13–16 in) in length and weighing around 700 g. It has black plumage and a prominent white frontal shield. Its natural habitats are freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, coastal saline lagoons, and water storage areas. The bird was federally listed in October 1970 as an endangered species and is considered both endemic and endangered by the state of Hawaiʻi. It is threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators such as the small Asian mongoose. The Makalawena Marsh on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi has been listed as a National Natural Landmark to preserve one of its last nesting areas.

Hawaiian crow

The Hawaiian crow or ʻalalā is a species of bird in the crow family, Corvidae, that is currently extinct in the wild, though reintroduction programs are underway. It is about the size of the carrion crow at 48–50 cm (19–20 in) in length, but with more rounded wings and a much thicker bill. It has soft, brownish-black plumage and long, bristly throat feathers; the feet, legs, and bill are black. Today, the Hawaiian crow is considered the most endangered of the family Corvidae. They are recorded to have lived up to 18 years in the wild, and 28 years in captivity. Some Native Hawaiians consider the Hawaiian crow an ʻaumakua.

Hawaiian duck

The Hawaiian duck or koloa is a species of bird in the family Anatidae that is endemic to the large islands of Hawaiʻi. Taxonomically, the koloa is closely allied with the mallard. It differs in that it is monomorphic and non-migratory. As with many duck species in the genus Anas, Hawaiian duck and mallards can interbreed and produce viable offspring, and the koloa has previously been considered an island subspecies of the mallard. However, all major authorities now consider this form to be a distinct species within the mallard complex. Recent analyses indicate that this is a distinct species that arose through ancient hybridization between mallard and the Laysan duck. The native Hawaiian name for this duck is koloa maoli, or simply koloa. This species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and its population trend is increasing.

Hawaiian hawk

The Hawaiian hawk or ʻio is a raptor in the genus Buteo endemic to Hawaiʻi, currently restricted to the Big Island. The ʻio is one of two extant birds of prey that are native to Hawaiʻi, the other being the pueo and fossil evidence indicates that it inhabited the island of Hawaiʻi, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui and Kauaʻi at one time. Today, it is known to breed only on the Big Island, in stands of native ʻōhiʻa lehua trees. The species was protected as an endangered species in the United States, but was delisted in 2020. However, the IUCN classifies the species as Near Threatened. NatureServe considers the species Vulnerable.