Hawaiian Birds – Amakihi

The ‘Amakihi is a small, endemic olive green Hawaiian honeycreeper with a short, decurved bill, and is found in native forests on the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, Kaua‘i, and O‘ahu. The Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, and O‘ahu ‘amakihi were all considered subspecies under the superspecies Common ‘Amakihi (Hemignathus virens), but recent genetic studies have led to the recognition of the Kaua‘i and O‘ahu ‘amakihi as distinct species. Although considerably diminished in numbers and range, they are still one of the most common birds in native forests.

The ‘Amakihi is found mostly in forests dominated by ohi’a and koa on all islands, and thrive in higher elevations up to the uppermost forest regions of 9,000 feet. The Kauai ‘Amakihi (Hemignatus kauaiensis) is found in the Alakai Wilderness Preserve, Koke’e State Park, and the Makaleha Mountains. The male is generally brighter in color than the female with olive green above, yellowish or creamy gray below, and dark lores. They are nonmigratory and omnivorous, feeding on insects and other arthropods, berries, fruit, nectar, and sap from trees with fully tubular tongues adapted for taking nectar. They are extremely agile and acrobatic while flying and hopping between perches, and can stop suddenly in full flight without slacking speed.