Fun Hawai'i 'amakihi Facts For Kids
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The Hawai'i 'amakihi is a nectarivorous Hawaiian honeycreeper found widespread in Hawaii. This species of forest birds from the big island are found in every habitat on the island and have no preference for the kind of forest they need to survive.
These birds are unique and accommodating and have more numbers than the native and non-native birds of the island. These honeycreeper birds can easily be spotted sipping nectar and catching insects in every type of Hawaiian forest and that makes them susceptible to population decrease.
This species of bird native to Hawaii are close relatives to the Oahu amakihi and Kauai amakihi.
The bird species known as Hawai'i 'amakihi is also called by the name, common amakihi. There is a bit of history behind the evolution of the name.
Earlier, all three species found abundant in the Hawaiian forest were known to be subspecies of the common amakihi bird. However, recently, Hawaii amakihi, Oahu amakihi, and Kauai amakihi were classified into separate species.
Due to the presence of avian malaria spread by mosquitoes, all three species of amakihi, Hawaii amakihi, Kauai amakihi, and Oahu amakihi, are found in all types of habitat above 3000 ft (914.4 m). However, the Hawaii amakihi seems to be adapting to the disease and now is seen below the mentioned altitude too.
The Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi birds of Hawaii are one of the most common honeycreepers found on the islands. A species of Hawaiian honeycreeper, the overall plumage of this small bird species is yellow-green with a black bill. These birds are said to resemble the Japanese white-eye and the Maui ‘Alauahio.
For more relatable content, check out these frigate facts and green honeycreeper fun facts for kids.
Hawai'i 'Amakihi Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Hawai'i 'amakihi?
This Hawaii native bird, Hawai'i 'amakihi, is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper.
What class of animal does a Hawai'i 'amakihi belong to?
The birds of North America, Chlorodrepanis virens, fall under the class of Aves in the kingdom of Animalia.
How many Hawai'i 'amakihis are there in the world?
The population of this amakihi species is not known, however the bird is found abundant in all the habitats of the region. Their numbers are even greater than native and non-native birds in the area.
Hawai'i 'amakihi birds are the most common of the Hawaiian honeycreepers on the big island of Hawaii. The area of existence of the Hawai'i 'amakihi is 218507.3 sq ft (20300 sq m).
Where does a Hawai'i 'amakihi live?
A Hawai'i 'amakihi is found on the Big Island, Maui, and Moloka'i in Hawaii. This species was also found on Lana'i, but it has not been seen there since 1976.
What is a Hawai'i 'amakihi's habitat?
These birds from Hawaii are found in all types of habitat ranging from dry mamane forests to mesic and wet forests. They are found in elevated areas up to an altitude of 8000 ft (2438.4 m).
The amakihi bird is also seen in the forests of pines, cypresses, and firs, specifically in Maui.
The Kauai amakihi, on the other hand, is found in wet ohia and mixed ohia-koa forests at an elevation above 2000 ft (609.6 m).
Who do Hawai'i 'amakihis live with?
They are found in groups sometimes. A group of honeycreepers is known as a hive.
How long does a Hawai'i 'amakihi live?
The lifespan of this bird is around eight years.
How do they reproduce?
The breeding season is between January and March when a bird lays a single egg, sometimes two, in a nest made of woven plant fibers. The chicks hatch after two weeks.
Only a few yellow feathers are seen on the chicks which are born mostly naked. The fledging time is two to three weeks. The chicks leave the nest to find their new territory when they are fully independent in two to three months.
There are two broods in a breeding season.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of Hawaii amakihi is categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Due to evolving nature of the bird and its compatibility to any habitat on the island, it is not affected by habitat loss.
Predation by some introduced animals on the islands like rats and cats has caused similar problems to this species as any other Hawaiian bird.
However, the Kauai amakihi is categorized as Vulnerable. The Kauai amakihi is vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss, invasive species, and avian malaria.
Hawai'i 'Amakihi Fun Facts
What do Hawai'i 'amakihis look like?
The Hawaii amakihi closely resembles the Japanese white-eye and the Maui ‘alauahio. However, the Japanese white-eye has a canvas green back. The 'alauahio is more yellow in color and has a small bill.
The bill of a Hawaii amakihi is down-curved and the plumage is yellow-green with a small black bill. The bird has brown eyes and black pupils. Juveniles and females are a little duller in color, while the males are bright green.
The Kauai amakihi is endemic to Kauai. The Kauai bird is similar with green-yellow plumage and black lores. A large sickle-shaped, downcurved beak can be seen on the Kauai amakihi. The bill of this species is larger than the other amakihi birds and the Kauai bird is sometimes misidentified as the extinct Kauai nukupuʻu.
How cute are they?
The size and coloration on the body of the bird make them quite cute.
How do they communicate?
The song of a Hawaii amakihi is 'aki, ki, ki, a' and its voice is quite powerful. The powerful chirps of this bird species can be heard from miles away.
How big is a Hawai'i 'amakihi?
A Hawaii amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens) is a very small bird in the natural habitat of the Hawaiian Islands. The range of length in this bird species goes up to 3.9 in (10 cm).
The house finch, a small bird species also found in the forest of the Hawaiian Islands has an average range of length of 5-6 in (12.7-15.2 cm).
How fast can a Hawai'i ʻ'makihi move?
Their speed is not known.
How much does a Hawai'i 'amakihi weigh?
The weight of the bird is not known.
What are the male and female names of the species?
Males and females of this species are not given different names.
What would you call a baby Hawai'i 'amakihi?
A baby Hawai'i' 'amakiki is called a chick.
What do they eat?
Like all hummingbirds, the Hawaii amakihi and the Kauai amakihi feed on the tree sap and nectar of native flowers. However, the flexibility of the types of habitat of these forest birds makes them prolific feeders, and these birds also diet on the nectar of non-native flowers and trees.
This species of birds have a wide diet range. They eat insects and spiders among trees and shrubs. Mostly, they drink nectar from flowers and also suck juice from fruits which is achieved with the help of their tubular tongue.
Smaller bird species usually feed on insects like spiders, flies, mosquitoes, wasps, beetles, ants, and aphids. However, the insect diet of the Hawaii amakihi and the Kauai amakihi is not known.
Are they dangerous?
They are not considered dangerous.
Would they make a good pet?
This animal is a wild animal and not kept as pets.
Did you know...
56 species of Hawaiian honeycreepers were once known to be living on the islands. However, only.18 are left and all others have gone extinct. Habitat degradation, predation by introduced species like cats and rats, and avian malaria are the reasons for the endangerment of the family.
Is the Hawai'i 'amakihi endemic?
The Hawai'i' 'amakihi is endemic to all types of Hawaiian forests on the island of Hawaii.
Why is the Hawai'i 'amakihi endangered?
The Hawaii amakihi population is currently stable and is given the status Least Concern. However, the bird is in danger of the same factors that have caused a decline in the population of other Hawaiian forest birds like avian malaria, habitat degradation, and predation.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these yellow-breasted chat facts and yellow-collared macaw facts.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable boho birds coloring pages.
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