Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi
Chlorodrepanis virens
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
Food:
Insects, nectar
Habitat:
3,000 ft +
Description
Hawaiʻi ‘amakihi are one of the most widespread of Hawaiian honeycreepers. ʻAmakihi have a slightly down-curved bill, often times have black lores (area between the eye and bill), and are a bright yellow-green. Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi are often mistaken for other birds, including the introduced Japanese White-eye and the Maui ‘alauahio.
Habitat and Behavior
Hawaiʻi ‘amakihi sip nectar from the flowers of a variety of native plants and trees and pick bark in search of insects. They often travel in small flocks and prefer drier and more open forest.
Past and Present
Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, ‘amakihi are one of the more adaptable of Hawaiʻiʻs native forest birds. They are relatively abundant on Hawai’i and Maui, found in small areas of Moloka’i, and extirpated from Lāna’i. Oahu and Kauai islands each have a distinct ʻamakihi species.
Conservation Efforts
Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi are found at lower elevations than most other honeycreepers, indicating some level of resistance to avian malaria from introduced mosquitoes. Read more about the Hawai’i ‘amakihi and avian malaria here.
Hawaiʻi ‘Amakihi in Waikamoi
Watch this MFBRP video of a male Hawaiʻi ‘amakihi calling out in Waikamoi Preserve.
ʻAmakihi Resistance to Avian Malaria
There is now evidence that Hawaiʻi ‘amakihi are evolving disease resistance and/or tolerance to avian malaria. ʻAmakihi are sometimes found in lower elevation areas that have mosquitoes and disease. Read more about the Hawaiʻi ‘Amakihi’s resistance to avian malaria.
Listen to ʻAmakihi
Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi calls include a buzzy “tzeet”, an upslurred “queet”, and a thin “zeek”. ‘Amakihi song is a loud trill that maintains a fairly level pitch, swelling in intensity in the middle. They also have a complex, canary-like whisper song.
