Gymnomyza samoensis
The Mao, or Samoan Honeyeater, is a striking and enigmatic large honeyeater endemic to the remote islands of Samoa and American Samoa. Averaging 29-31 cm (11.4-12.2 inches) in length and weighing around 90-110 grams, it is characterized by its glossy olive-black plumage, which can appear dark green in certain lights, contrasting sharply with a distinctive, bright bare yellow-orange facial patch surrounding the eye and extending as a stripe behind it. This prominent bare skin, along with a rob...
Found primarily in humid montane rainforests and mature secondary forests, favoring dense canopy cover and lush undergrowth. It typically occurs at elevations from 300 meters up to the highest peaks of its island range.
Primarily nectivorous, feeding on nectar from various flowering trees and epiphytes, supplemented by insects caught through gleaning and hawking, and occasionally small fruits.
The Mao is a rather secretive yet vocal bird, often observed singly or in pairs, actively foraging high in the forest canopy throughout the day. Its foraging strategy involves probing flowers for nectar with its brush-tipped tongue, gleaning insects from foliage and bark, and occasionally consumi...
The Mao is strictly endemic to the Samoan Archipelago, with its current distribution limited to the larger islands of Upolu and Savai'i in Samoa, and Tutuila in American Samoa. Historical records suggest it may have once occurred on other nearby islands, but these populations are now extirpated. ...
Vulnerable
- The Mao's distinctive bare yellow facial skin makes it one of the most uniquely marked honeyeaters in the Pacific. - Its calls are so loud and varied they are often described as 'haunting' or 'ghostly' and can carry long distances through dense forest. - Unlike many honeyeaters, the Mao is rela...