Moho apicalis
The Oahu Oo, *Moho apicalis*, was a strikingly elegant passerine endemic to the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and is now sadly extinct. Measuring approximately 30 cm (12 inches) in length, it was characterized by its glossy black plumage, which shone with a subtle iridescence in good light. A distinctive field mark was the small, diagnostic tufts of bright yellow feathers located in the axillary region, under the wings, though these were less prominent than in some of its relatives. Its head featur...
The Oahu Oo inhabited the dense, wet montane forests of Oahu, typically found at higher elevations where native flora, particularly lobelioids, thrived.
Its diet consisted primarily of nectar from native Hawaiian lobelioid flowers, supplemented by insects and spiders gleaned from vegetation.
Observations of the Oahu Oo's behavior are unfortunately scarce due to its early extinction, but inferences can be drawn from historical accounts and closely related species. It was diurnal, actively foraging during daylight hours. Its primary foraging strategy involved probing deep into native f...
The Oahu Oo was strictly endemic to the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian archipelago. Historical records indicate its presence primarily in the pristine, higher-elevation wet montane forests of the Koolau and Waianae mountain ranges. Its distribution was restricted to these native forest ecosystems...
Critically Endangered
- The Oahu Oo was last definitively observed and collected in 1837 by German naturalist Ferdinand Deppe, making it one of the earliest Hawaiian birds to become extinct post-European contact. - Its brilliant yellow axillary tufts were highly prized by Hawaiian ali'i (royalty) for crafting intricat...