Oʻahu ʻAlauahio

Oʻahu ʻAlauahio
Conservation status
Critically endangered, possibly extinct (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Fringillidae
Subfamily:	Drepanidinae
Genus:	Paroreomyza
Species:	P. maculata
Binomial name
Paroreomyza maculata Cabanis, 1850

The O'ahu 'Alauahio (Paroreomyza maculata), also known as the Oahu Creeper, is a small finch-like bird that is endemic to the Hawaiian island of Oahu. It is a brown yellow bird with a small bluish bill. It is four inches long and has a small tail made up of mustard colored feathers. It feeds on invertebrates that were hidden under the bark of trees, and it uses its the bill to remove the bark and the catch the insects using its specialized tongue.

Adult and juveniles

The bird is critically endangered and may be extinct because of disease (avian malaria), introduced and invasive plants and wildlife, and habitat loss. The last confirmed record occurred in 1985, though unconfirmed reports are still filed.

References

1. ^ "Paroreomyza maculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2009. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/149625. Retrieved 30 January 2010. 

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• 3D view of specimens RMNH 110.005, RMNH 110.006 and RMNH 110.007 at Naturalis, Leiden (requires QuickTime browser plugin).