Alternative name Kaui Elepaio
- Chasiempis ibidis
Identification
12cm.
- Brown above
- Mottled grey/white/brown breast and flanks
- White throat, males with black collar and chin
- White rump
- Dark wings with white bars
- Long brown black tail
Juvenile
- Muted colors with brown above and white/grey below
Distribution
Endemic to Oahu,, Hawaii.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Kauai Elepaio and Hawaii Elepaio.
Habitat
Forests, from ground level to just below the canopy. Usually the only native forest bird frequently seen on the ground or on ground-level plants and ferns.
Behaviour
The diet includes insects and spiders.
They build small cup-shaped nests from grasses, rootlets, and lichens, held together by spider webs. 2 eggs are laid and incubated for 18 days.
Vocalisation
Squeaky/wheezy voice resembles a "rubber ducky". Calls include repeated squeaky agitated muttering, barks/shouts ("CHUP! CHUP! CHUP!"), wheezy "WHEEE-oh" "WUH WHEEE-oh" calls, developing into longer whistled calls which can occasionally sound like el-e-pai-o.
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds
- Native Birds of Hawaii
