Palila Identification

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A large Hawaiian honeycreeper with a thick, seed-eating bill. Adult has a yellow head and breast, dark back, and pale gray underparts.

Sexes are similar in appearance, with male slightly more colorful than female. Note the black mask extending from the bill to the eye.

A large Hawaiian honeycreeper found only on Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii. Adult has a yellow head and breast, black mask, and light gray underparts. Feeds mostly on mamane seeds, but also eats mamane flowers (as seen here). Uses heavy bill to sever seed pods and flowers from branch and then holds items under foot for further processing.

Feeds mostly on the seeds of mamane trees.

Back is dark gray, while rump is lighter gray. Both wings and tail contain golden highlights.

Forages mainly in the canopy near the ends of branches, where seed pods and flowers are located.

Found only in dry native forest between 2,000 and 3,000 meters (6,600–9,800 feet) on Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii.

See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

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Identification

A rare Hawaiian honeycreeper of high elevation dry forests on the western slope of Mauna Kea volcano on Hawaii Island. Occurs only above 6,500 feet. Males and females are similarly patterned but males are more brightly colored. Quiet and generally shy, but males may sing from an exposed perch. Sometimes found in pairs or small groups. Feeds primarily on green seed pods of the mamane tree. Call is a soft “pah-lee-lah.”