Tag Archives: Oreomyza maculata (Cabanis) Rothschild

Paroreomyza maculata ssp. maculata (Cabanis)

Oahu Alauwahio (Paroreomyza maculata ssp. maculata)  

The Oahu Alauwahio was endemic to the island of O’ahu, Hawaiian Islands, where it formerly inhabited almost all wooded areas at all altitudes. Its population, however, broke down around 1890, and the species was since restricted to the higher elevations of the Ko’olau- and Wai’anae Mountains.  

The species reached a length of about 12 cm, males and females differed from each other in coloration.  

The Oahu Alauwahio was often observed in small family groups consisting of about six birds. Like its next living relative, the Maui Alauwahio (Paroreomyza montana ssp. newtoni (Rothschild)), it fed on insects and their larvae, which it searched for under the bark of dead branches.  

The last individuals were seen in 1985. [1][2]  

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References:  

[1] E. Fuller: Extinct Birds. Penguin Books (England) 1987 [2] H. D. Pratt: The Hawaiian Honeycreepers: Drepanidinae. Oxford University Press 2005  

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Depiction from: ‘W. Rothschild: The Avifauna of Laysan and the neighbouring islands with a complete history to date of the birds of the Hawaiian possession. 1893-1900’    

(public domain)

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edited: 23.03.2018