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The species Ula-ai-hawane is extinct. |
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- Ciridops anna
Identification
Extinct. Last collected in 1892. Possible sighting in 1937.
11 cm. Red overall, silver grey head, throat, and upper back, black crown, wings, breast, shoulder, and tail, white tertials, yellow legs and bill. Immature birds were brownish overall with a blue-grey breast, black wings and tail, and a green-brown back.
Distribution
Taxonomy
This species was monotypic.[1]
Habitat
Found in the vicinity of Hawaiian loulu (pritchardia) palms, occuring primarily in native rainforests.
Behaviour
This species was already rare when first studied by European naturalists, so little is known about their habits. The species was associated with native pritchardia palms, hence the name "hawane" which is the fruit of the palm. The stomach of an alcohol-preserved specimin was found to contain insects. A misreading of the meaning of "eating of" leads some people to assume that they ate the fruit ("hawane") of the palm. However, the meaning of the words "eating of" in Hawaiian often indicates the location where something/someone lives. (i.e. the place which sustains them) Also, the fruits of the palm are usually infested with boring insects, which may have been part of the birds' diet.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
