Oʻahu ʻAmakihi

Taxobox
name = Oʻahu ʻAmakihi


image_width =
image_caption =
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Fringillidae
subfamilia = Drepanidinae
genus = "Hemignathus"
species = "H. flavus"
binomial = "Hemignathus flavus"
binomial_authority = (Bloxam, 1827)
synonyms =

The Oʻahu ʻAmakihi ("Hemignathus flavus") is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper in the Fringillidae family. The male is rich yellow below, sharply contrasted with greenish upper parts. Females are duller and have two prominent wing-bars. It has a total length of approximately 4½ in (11 cm). It is endemic to the Hawaiian island of O'ahu.

Habitat

It tends to stay in the wetter southern area of Oʻahu. It can easily be spotted in two major parks, the Honouliuli Preserve, and the Wa'ahila Ridge State Recreation Area. It tends to stay in forest, but has - at least to some extent - adapted to non-native forest types. It will nest and forage in wooded urban areas, but prefers native habitats where Koa trees dominate. It mainly occurs at altitudes above 1650 ft (500 m), but in some valleys in parts of its range it occurs lower.

Diet

Due to its bill shape, it is able to scrape off pieces of bark and reach insects that make up all of the protein in its diet. It drinks nectar from Ohia Lehua trees and in rare cases it will use sugar feeders.

Breeding

The birds pair off during the breeding season, which occurs from mid December to early March. The small nest is about 2-4 inches wide. The female lays 1-2 eggs. In two weeks the eggs hatch, with the hatchlings looking like brown fuzballs. 3 weeks later the birds are ready to leave the nest.

Threats

It is threatened by habitat loss, introduced predators and avian malaria. Some populations, however, appear to have developed a level of resistance to avian malaria, which might explain its recent expansion into lowland areas where mosquitoes - the vector of this disease - are more common. Overall, it appears far less threatened than several other Hawaiian honeycreeper, as also reflected by its status as vulnerable.

References

* BirdLife International 2004. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/40448/all Hemignathus flavus] . [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ] Downloaded on 10 July 2007.

External links

* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=30001&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet.]