Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio |
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| Female volcano ʻelepaio Chasiempis sandwichensis ridgwayi |
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| Conservation status | |
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Chasiempis
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| Species: |
sandwichensis
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| Subspecies | |
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See text |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis) is a small, active bird. It is a type of monarch flycatcher. You can only find this bird on the Big Island of Hawaii.
For a long time, scientists thought there were only three types of ʻelepaio. These were the Kauaʻi ʻelepaio, the Oʻahu ʻelepaio, and the Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio. But in 2010, they realized these were actually three different species.
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About the Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio
The Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio was first named in 1789. It was originally placed in a different group of birds called Muscicapa.
Different Types of Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio
There are three main types, or subspecies, of the Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio. Each type lives in a slightly different area on the Big Island. They also have small differences in their looks, especially on their heads.
The Kona ʻelepaio
The Kona ʻelepaio is known by its scientific name, C. s. sandwichensis. It has a whitish forehead and eyebrows. Sometimes, it also has some rusty-colored feathers.
This bird lives in mesic forests. These are forests that are not too wet and not too dry. They are often filled with koa trees and ʻōhiʻa lehua trees. The population of the Kona ʻelepaio seems to be steady. There are about 60,000 to 65,000 of these birds.
The Volcano ʻelepaio
The volcano ʻelepaio is called C. s. ridgwayi by scientists. It was once thought to be its own separate species. This type of ʻelepaio is the most common today. There are around 100,000 to 150,000 of them. This means they make up more than half of all ʻelepaio birds.
These birds live in the rainforests of Hawaii. These forests are full of ʻōhiʻa lehua trees and tall hāpuʻu tree ferns.
The Mauna Kea ʻelepaio
The Mauna Kea ʻelepaio is known as C. s. bryani. You can only find this bird on the leeward (drier) slopes of Mauna Kea. It lives in dry forests where māmane and naio trees grow. Its entire head is mostly white.
This is the rarest type of Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio on the Big Island. This is because much of its home has been destroyed. There are only about 2,000 to 2,500 of these birds left.
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