Chlorodrepanis virens
The Hawaii Amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens) is a vibrant and relatively common Hawaiian honeycreeper, showcasing the remarkable adaptive radiation of its lineage. Adults measure approximately 10.5-11.5 cm (4.1-4.5 inches) in length and weigh 8-16 grams. Males are distinguished by their bright olive-green upperparts and yellow underparts, with a distinct black lore extending from the bill to the eye. Females are generally duller, exhibiting more subdued olive-gray tones, and juveniles are even ...
The Hawaii Amakihi inhabits a broad spectrum of forest types, from wet to dry, native to non-native, spanning elevations from sea level up to over 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).
Their diet consists primarily of nectar from a variety of native and introduced flowering plants, supplemented significantly by insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark.
Hawaii Amakihi are diurnal birds, active from dawn to dusk, and typically roost solitarily or in small family groups among dense foliage. Their foraging strategy is agile and acrobatic; they use their specialized decurved bills to probe deep into flowers for nectar and glean insects and spiders f...
The Hawaii Amakihi is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, found as a resident species on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Hawaiʻi (Big Island). It has been extirpated from the island of Lānaʻi. This non-migratory species occupies a wide elevational range, from near sea level to over 2,000 meters (...
Least Concern
- The Hawaii Amakihi is one of the most common and widespread native forest birds remaining in the Hawaiian Islands. - Its distinctive decurved bill is perfectly adapted for extracting nectar from the tubular flowers of native plants like 'ōhi'a lehua. - Some populations on Hawaiʻi Island have sh...