‘Amakihi

I lied.  Two posts this week cause I need to play catch up >____>U

‘Amakihi
Endemic
Hawai‘i: Hemignathus virens virens
O‘ahu: Hemignathus flavus
Kaua‘i: Hemignathus kauaiensis
Maui: Hemignathus virens wilsoni

There are four species within the state of Hawai‘i, one each on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i, and the third, the Hawai‘i species, is dispersed throughout the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, and Moloka‘i (it was formerly found on Lana‘i too).  I only have pictures of the Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi via my brother (who currently resides on the Big Island), but I will give you descriptions of the O‘ahu, Maui and Kaua‘i ‘Amakihi as well. 

The ‘Amakihi can be most commonly found in elevations above 2000 feet, but on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i, they can be found at lower elevations.

These birds are about 4 1/2 inches, with differences between the sexes.  The males are "yellowish green above and yellow below" while the immatures and females are greenish gray and overall a duller color.  All ‘Amakihi have a decurved beak and dark lores, thogh the lores are less noticeable on females and juveniles.

They are the most common native forest birds, and are quite adaptable.  They forage for "nectar, fruit, and insects on a variety of native and introduced plant species. It sometimes forages creeper-like on trunks and large branches" (86).

The Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi is the brightest species out of the four, being mostly yellow below and possessing the largest black lores.  Immature birds are "drab grey and may lack dark lores, some have faint wingbars."  Can be confused with Hawai‘i Creeper.

Maui ‘Amakihi females and immatures "may show one faint wingbar. Often seen in small flocks".

The bill of the O‘ahu species is a little heavier than the Hawai‘i species.  The females and immature "have two bold wingbars. Easily confused with the very rare O‘ahu Creeper.  Found at low elevations, recently increasing in some suburban areas, such as Manoa".  So be on the lookout if you're in the area!

The Kaua‘i species is the biggest of all the four species.  It also has a "noticeably longer, heavier bill".  The males are an olive color above, with a dull yellow-green below.  "The forehead and crownmay be speckled with black." This species of ‘Amakihi can be seen "creeping along branches and hanging upside down while foraging for bark invertebrates."  Birdwatchers not from Kaua‘i mistake the Kaua‘i ‘Amakihi with the rarer Nukupu‘u.