Oahu Elepaio

Basic Description

The Oahu Elepaio is the rarest of the three elepaio species—federally listed as Endangered with just a few thousand individuals remaining on the island of Oahu. This adaptable species readily uses non-native forest, but large-scale habitat destruction combined with heavy nest predation by introduced black rats has resulted in a very small, declining population. Oahu Elepaio are energetic, conspicuous birds, moving quickly through vegetation in search of insects and spiders. Adults are brown above and whitish below, with characteristic white wingbars, rump, and tips to tail. Immatures are a rich cinnamon on the head, throat, and back, with rufous wingbars, and take more than two years to reach full adult plumage.