‘I’iwi

Description

The ‘iʻiwi is a large, nectarivorous honeycreeper about 6 inches in length. They are brilliant scarlet with black wings and tail. Their bill is long, deeply decurved, and peach-colored. Immature are dull yellow with black spots. Bills are dusky brown at first and becomes brightly colored with age. Their bright colors and unique bill make them one of the most recognizable honeycreepers. ʻiʻiwi are loud and raucous and, like ʻākohekohe, are often aggressive to other species near nectar sources. Their long decurved bill is thought to be adapted to feeding on long, tubular flowers like the endemic Hawaiian Lobelioids (Campanulaceae). However, they will drink nectar from a wide variety of plant species including some with very small flowers. 

Habitat and Behavior

Often found in flowering ʻōhiʻa lehua, māmane, and ‘ākala. ʻiʻiwi rarely stop moving and call often as they forage. While feeding, they keep to the interior of leafy branches, before bursting out to quickly fly to another tree. Wings produce an audible flutter in flight.

Past and Present

Endemic to the main Hawaiian islands in native forests above 4,500 ft. Common to abundant on Hawai’i Island and Maui, becoming rare on Kaua’i, and extremely rare or extinct on Moloka’i and Oʻahu. This species has seen the a drastic population decline in recent decades. On Maui, the once widespread ʻiʻiwi is largely restricted to upper elevation native forests on windward East Maui and the non-native forests of Kula Forest Reserve. There is a small population located high up on West Maui.

Conservation Efforts

In 2017, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the ʻiʻiwi as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). ʻIʻiwi are highly susceptible to avian malaria and are in a decline because of this. Creating more high elevation forest that is ungulate and mosquito free will help protect the birds. Measures to control invasive species such as cats, rats, mongooses, and mosquitoes are essential to helping the ʻiʻiwi.