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The species Hawaii Mamo is extinct. |
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- Drepanis pacifica
Identification
23 cm (9 in).
- Mostly black plumage
- Yellow rump, undertail coverts, shoulders and thighs
- White patch on primaries
- Blackish, decurved bill
Sexes similar, juveniles were brownish.
Distribution
Formerly Hawaii. Last reported 1898 and 1899, unconfirmed sightings also a few years later.
Reasons for extinction were habitat destruction and probably also avian pox.
Taxonomy
This was a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Forest canopy.
Behaviour
Reportedly a rather shy species.
The yellow feathers were used by the natives for featherwork, including the famous yellow cloak of Kamehameha which was made of feathers of up to 80,000 Mamos.
Diet
Fed on nectar of Lobelia species, also seen taking insects.
Breeding
No information.
Movements
Probably a resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- BirdLife species factsheet (retrived May 2016)
- Avibase
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Hawaii Mamo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Hawaii_Mamo
