Ciridops anna
The Ula-ai-hawane (*Ciridops anna*), a striking and enigmatic Hawaiian honeycreeper, is now sadly extinct, last definitively seen in 1892. This small, stout-bodied passerine measured approximately 10 cm (4 inches) in length. Adult males showcased a glossy black body, brilliantly contrasted by a vivid crimson crown, rump, and inner wing feathers (secondary coverts), with a distinctive white patch at the bend of the wing. Females and immatures presented a duller coloration, with juveniles appea...
Historically inhabited wet ʻōhiʻa (*Metrosideros polymorpha*) and koa (*Acacia koa*) forests at mid to high elevations, typically between 1,000 and 2,000 meters (3,300-6,600 feet).
Primarily frugivorous, specializing in the fruits of *Pritchardia* palms (known as 'hawane'). Also consumed nectar from flowers, particularly ʻōhiʻa lehua (*Metrosideros polymorpha*), and possibly supplemented its diet with insects.
Due to its rarity and early extinction, detailed behavioral observations are scant. The Ula-ai-hawane was a diurnal species, likely spending its days foraging in the forest canopy. Its specialized diet suggests a unique foraging strategy centered on cracking open *Pritchardia* palm fruits with it...
The Ula-ai-hawane was historically endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi, with records indicating its presence on the slopes of Mauna Kea, Hualālai, and Mauna Loa. Its known distribution was restricted to wet montane forests, predominantly at mid-elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 meters (3,300-6,...
Extinct
- Its Hawaiian name, 'Ula-ai-hawane,' translates to 'red-eating-hawane,' a direct nod to its primary food source, the fruit of the *Pritchardia* palm. - This bird was so rare that only five specimens were ever collected for scientific study, making it one of the least documented Hawaiian birds. -...