Hawaiian Birds and ‘Apapane

The ‘Apapane is the most abundant species of Hawaiian honeycreeper and is found in mesic and wet forests of high elevation on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. The highest densities of ‘Apapane are found in forests dominated by its primary food source – blooms of ohi‘a (Metrosideros polymorpha) flowers, and above the distribution of mosquitoes, which transmit avian malaria and avian pox to native birds.

‘Apapane (Himatione sanguinea) are primarily nectarivorous, but also diet on invertebrates including butterflies, moths, hoppers, lacewings, spiders, bees, wasps, ants, bark lice, flies, beetles, thrips, true bugs, and mites. They forage mostly in the upper forest canopy (not on the ground) on outer flower clusters of ohi‘a trees, and move quickly among flower clusters probing for nectar and gleaning insects.

Adults have bright crimson plumage with black wings and tail, and white undertail-coverts and lower abdomen. Their bill is slightly decurved and bluish black. Juveniles have brown and buff body-feathers with white undertail-coverts. Pairs remain together during the breeding season and defend a small area around the nest, but most ‘Apapane disperse from breeding areas after nesting. They have an incredibly diverse array of songs and calls that vary between colonies, as well as between islands.