General

Hawaii Amakihi: Also known as the Common Amakihi. Upperparts are yellow-green and underparts are yellow. Lores are black, bill is black and decurved. Wings and tail are olive-gray. Female has shorter bill and is less yellow, more green. Juvenile is dull gray-green above and glaucous below, may have yellow streaks. Lores are gray and has pale wing bars.

Range and Habitat

Hawaii Amakihi: Found on Hawaii and Maui, rare on Molokai. Lives in both wet and dry native forests in low and high elevations.

Breeding and Nesting

Hawaii Amakihi: Two to three white to cream eggs with purple markings and brown blotches are laid in an open cup nest contructed of twigs, grass stems, and leaves. Most nests are built 12-24 feet above the ground in a Mamane or Ohia tree. Female incubates eggs for 14 days, chicks fledge 15-21 days after hatching.

Foraging and Feeding

Hawaii Amakihi: Forages on leaves and branches for insects and spiders. Uses its tubular tongue to drink nectar, mostly from flowers of Mamane and Ohia trees, also feeds on fruit.

Vocalization

Hawaii Amakihi: Song is a flat trill, call is a buzzy "tzeet" and "chu-weet".

Similar Species

Hawaii Amakihi: Hawaii Creeper has straighter bill, adults have white throats and gray or black loral mask extending behind eye. Akiapola'au are slightly larger and have much longer curved bills.