Maui ʻalauahio

The Maui ʻalauahio, also known as the Maui Nui ʻalauahio or Maui creeper, is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper. It is endemic to Maui Nui, Hawaii. The name Maui ʻalauahio is somewhat misleading because the species seems to have occurred on most, if not all, parts of the ancient Maui Nui, which includes the present day islands of Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe. There are two subspecies: the Lānaʻi ʻalauahio, P. montana montana, which occurred on Lānaʻi (extinct); and P. montana newtoni which occurs on Maui. The common name refers to both groups.

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Distribution

Region

Hawaiian Islands

Typical Environment

Today it is largely confined to montane wet and mesic native forests on East Maui, especially around Haleakalā. It favors stands dominated by ʻōhiʻa lehua and koa, where rough bark and dead twigs harbor insects. Historically it occurred across the lower islands of Maui Nui, but disease-carrying mosquitoes have restricted it to cooler, higher elevations. It uses both the canopy and midstory and occasionally forages near forest edges where native vegetation remains.

Altitude Range

1000–2400 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size12–13 cm

Wing Span18–22 cm

Male Weight0.014 kg

Female Weight0.013 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

A Hawaiian honeycreeper, the Maui ʻalauahio is an adept bark-gleaner that pries insects and larvae from koa and ʻōhiʻa trees. It once occurred across ancient Maui Nui; the Lānaʻi subspecies is extinct, while the Maui subspecies persists mainly at higher elevations. Populations are limited by avian malaria and habitat alteration, making disease-free highlands critical refuges. It plays an important role in controlling forest arthropods.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Often forages in pairs or small family groups and may join mixed-species flocks with other native honeycreepers. Pairs defend small nesting areas but move widely while feeding. Nests are cup-shaped and placed in native trees, with both parents feeding the young.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A series of thin, high-pitched chips and rapid trills, sometimes given in short, lively bursts. Calls are sharp and insect-like contact notes used to keep group cohesion.

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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

Maui nukupuʻu

The Maui nukupuʻu is a species of nukupuʻu Hawaiian honeycreeper that was endemic to the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands. The small, five-inch-long bird lived only in eastern Maui, where it was dependent on high-elevation mesic and wet forests of ʻōhiʻa lehua and koa. These two species of trees attract insects, causing the Maui nukupuʻu to have a higher chance of finding a meal near these trees. It was last sighted in the late 1990's, and is most likely extinct.

Maui parrotbill

The kiwikiu or Maui parrotbill is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to the island of Maui in Hawaii. It can only be found in 50 square kilometres (19 sq mi) of mesic and wet forests at 1,200–2,150 metres (3,940–7,050 ft) on the windward slopes of Haleakalā. This species is critically endangered, with an estimated population in 2016 of 250-540 individuals, but more recent estimates of less than 150 individuals. Fossil evidence indicates that the bird could at one time be seen in dry forests at elevations as low as 200–300 metres (660–980 ft), as well as on the island of Molokaʻi.

Mauritius blue pigeon

The Mauritius blue pigeon is an extinct species of blue pigeon formerly endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. It has two extinct relatives from the Mascarenes and three extant ones from other islands. It is the type species of the genus of blue pigeons, Alectroenas. It had white hackles around the head, neck and breast and blue plumage on the body, and it was red on the tail and the bare parts of the head. These colours were thought similar to those of the Dutch flag, a resemblance reflected in its French common name, Pigeon Hollandais. The juveniles may have been partially green. It was 30 cm (12 in) long and larger and more robust than any other blue pigeon species. It fed on fruits, nuts, and molluscs, and was once widespread in the forests of Mauritius.