Chloridops kona
The Kona Grosbeak (Chloridops kona) was a highly specialized and tragically extinct Hawaiian honeycreeper, endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi. Males were characterized by an olive-green body, a brighter yellow-green head and rump, and a distinctive black loral stripe extending from the base of its massive, pale, conical bill. Females were generally duller and grayer, exhibiting less vibrant coloration. This robust species measured approximately 6 inches (15 cm) in length, with its most striking...
This species was exclusively found in dry, high-elevation mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) forests, primarily on the western slopes of Mauna Loa on Hawaiʻi island.
The Kona Grosbeak had an almost entirely granivorous diet, feeding predominantly on the seeds of the mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) tree. Its powerful bill was uniquely adapted to crack these tough pods.
Observations of the Kona Grosbeak were extremely limited due to its short discovery period and rarity, but some behaviors were noted. It was a diurnal species, spending its days methodically foraging. Its foraging strategy was highly specialized, utilizing its immense bill to meticulously strip t...
The Kona Grosbeak was strictly endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi, with its entire known range confined to a very specific and limited area. It was found exclusively within the dry, high-elevation mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) forests on the western slopes of Mauna Loa, primarily within the Kona di...
Extinct
- The Kona Grosbeak was discovered by science in 1887 and declared extinct by 1894, giving it one of the shortest known tenures between discovery and extinction for a bird species. - Its scientific name, `Chloridops kona`, directly references its greenish plumage (`chloris`) and the Kona district...