Chaetoptila angustipluma
The Kioea (Chaetoptila angustipluma) was a striking, medium-sized honeyeater, endemic to the montane forests of Hawaiʻi Island, now sadly extinct. Averaging about 33 cm (13 inches) in length, it possessed a distinctive long, decurved, brush-tipped bill, perfectly adapted for nectar feeding. Its plumage was generally dull olive-brown on the upperparts, contrasting with a yellowish or whitish belly, and a prominent black mask across its eyes. Perhaps its most notable field mark, from which it d...
The Kioea inhabited the wet, montane 'ōhi'a (Metrosideros polymorpha) and koa (Acacia koa) forests of Hawaiʻi Island, typically found at elevations between 1,200 and 1,800 meters (4,000 to 6,000 feet).
The Kioea was primarily nectarivorous, feeding heavily on the nectar of 'ōhi'a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) flowers, supplemented by a significant intake of insects and spiders gleaned from vegetation.
As a diurnal species, the Kioea would have spent its days actively foraging within the forest canopy and understory. Its primary foraging strategy involved hovering at flowers to extract nectar with its specialized tongue, similar to hummingbirds or other honeyeaters, and gleaning insects and spi...
The Kioea was strictly endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi (the Big Island) within the Hawaiian archipelago. Its historical range encompassed the wet, montane 'ōhi'a and koa forests, primarily on the slopes of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualālai. There is no evidence to suggest it ever occurred on an...
Extinct
- The name 'Kioea' translates from Hawaiian to 'tall stander,' possibly referring to its upright posture when perched or its long legs. - It was the only true honeyeater (family Meliphagidae) ever to inhabit the Hawaiian Islands, representing an isolated and ancient colonization event. - Despite ...