Kioea (Chaetoptila angustipluma)
The Kioea was the largest of the pseudo-honeyeaters (Mohoidae) that were endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, this species is – at least historically – known only from the biggest island, Hawai’i itself. It might formerly have been more widely distributed since subfossil remains that probably can be assigned to this species have been found on Maui.
The species reached a size of 32 cm, it was more or less olive-green colored with most of the feathers being decorated with a light tip which gave the bird a heaviliy spotted apearance.
The Kioea was a nectar-feeding species and was described as having been a quite aggresive bird commonly chasing away other nectar-feeding bird species from its preferred flowers.
The species was last seen in 1859.
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(public domain)
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edited: 13.09.2020