- Oahu 'Akialoa
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Oʻahu ʻAkialoa 
Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Drepanididae Genus: Akialoa Species: A. ellisiana Binomial name Akialoa ellisiana
(Gray, 1859)Synonyms Hemignathus obscurus (Gmelin, 1788) pro parte
1: male 2: juvenile 3: female
Hemignathus ellisianus above with other extinct birdsThe Oʻahu ʻAkialoa (Akialoa ellisiana) was a species of finch in the Fringillidae family. The Oʻahu ʻAkialoa was a species of Akialoa, or long-billed insectivorous bird that was that was found in the high elevation forest. It was a dull colored species, dull green on the belly, bright green on tail on rump and tail, dark olive-grey back and speckled yellow and green on the head. It was endangered from the loss of habitat; it was very prone to Avian Flu, a disease that was introduced by the mosquito. This bird was mainly an insectivore using its bill to probe through the bark in search of bugs to eats. It also used its long bill to go into flowers to reach their stores of nectar. When the forests are cleared the bird could not find any food, as a result, they would starve. The birds were also weak against the natural diminishing factors like weather and competition from other native nectar feeding birds. Scientists were sure that this bird was still common in the 1860’s, evidence found by Perkins. Afterward, few reports came in, though two were presumed to be seen in 1933 and one in 1940. It was endemic to the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. It became extinct due to habitat loss.
Footnotes
References
- BirdLife International 2004. Akialoa ellisiana. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 10 July 2007.
External links
- 3D view of specimens RMNH 110.021, RMNH 110.022 and RMNH 110.023 at Naturalis, Leiden (requires QuickTime browser plugin).
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