Maui Alauahio

Basic Description

The Maui Alauahio is a small Hawaiian honeycreeper found only on eastern Maui. Adults are yellow on the face and breast, with olive-green upperparts, while young birds are grayish. They forage restlessly, using their short, slightly curved bill to pluck insects and spiders from branches, leaves, and lichens in both native and non-native forests. Immatures reach adult plumage after several years, during which time they assist their parents in feeding their younger siblings in the nest. This species is relatively numerous compared to many other Hawaiian honeycreepers, with an estimated 60,000–70,000 mature individuals, but it is considered endangered due to its very small range and high susceptibility to avian malaria.