Moho (genus) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moho |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Kauaʻi ʻōʻō (Moho braccatus), the last surviving Mohoidae (extinct c. 1987) |
|
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | †Mohoidae |
| Genus: | †Moho Lesson, 1830 |
| Species | |
|
See text |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Moho birds were a group of amazing birds that lived only in the Hawaiian Islands. They are now all extinct, meaning they no longer exist anywhere in the world. In the Hawaiian language, these birds were called ʻōʻō.
These birds usually had shiny black feathers. Some species also had bright yellow feathers under their wings. Sadly, most Moho birds disappeared because their homes were destroyed. People also hunted them a lot. Their beautiful feathers were used to make special robes and capes for Hawaiian chiefs (called aliʻi). The Kauaʻi ʻōʻō was the very last type of Moho bird. It likely died out around 1987, possibly due to a bird sickness called avian malaria.
For a long time, scientists thought Moho birds were related to honeyeaters. This was because they looked and acted very similar. But in 2008, scientists studied the DNA from old museum specimens of Moho birds. They found out that Moho birds were actually part of a different bird family. This new family includes birds like waxwings and silky-flycatchers. Because of this discovery, scientists created a new family just for Moho birds and another extinct Hawaiian bird called Chaetoptila. This new family is called Mohoidae.
The jazz musician John Zorn named his 2009 album O'o after these unique birds.
Types of Moho Birds
There were several different kinds of Moho birds. Here are the main species that scientists know about. There are also signs of another species from Maui, sometimes called the Maui ʻōʻō.
| Image | Common name | Scientific name | Extinct since |
 |
Oʻahu ʻōʻō | Moho apicalis | c. 1837 |
 |
Bishop's ʻōʻō or Molokaʻi ʻōʻō |
Moho bishopi | c. 1904 |
 |
Hawaiʻi ʻōʻō | Moho nobilis | c. 1934 |
 |
Kauaʻi ʻōʻō | Moho braccatus | c. 1987 |
See also
In Spanish: Moho (género) para niños
