Hawaii Elepaio Identification

A small, long-tailed songbird found only on the island of Hawaii. Age, sex, climate, and individual variation all contribute to highly variable coloration. Adult has white rump, wingbars, and tail tips. Throat is mostly black in males and white in females. Individuals in warm humid environments are generally darker.

Highly variable in color. Adults in cooler, drier parts of the island have a mostly white head, white underparts with light streaking, a grayer back, and larger white wingbars.

A small, energetic songbird found only on the island of Hawaii. Hops and flits through vegetation in search of insects and spiders. Adult has white wingbars and rump. Plumage otherwise highly variable. Often holds long tail cocked upward.

A highly variable species, with adults ranging from mostly brown to largely whitish. Some birds are intermediate in appearance.

Immature is gray-brown above and whitish below, with rusty wingbars and rump.

Elepaio are bold and inquisitive, often investigating people.

The only elepaio species on the island of Hawaii. Often holds tail cocked upward.

Most common in wet, native, higher elevation forest, but also occurs in drier woodland, savanna, and disturbed lower elevation habitats, including introduced forest.