General

Kauai Elepaio: Small monarch flycatcher. Crown and back are dark gray-brown to light gray, white to light gray underparts have light orange-brown wash on upper breast. Lores, eyebrows, chin and throat are white mixed with cinnamon. Wingbars, rump are white, long brown tail is white-tipped. Sexes are similar, females may have less color on throat and breast. Juveniles, second- and third- year subadults have red-brown head, back, and upper breast, off-white underparts, and buff wingbars.

Range and Habitat

Kauai Elepaio: Endemic to Kauai. Prefers dense, wet ohia forests above 2,000', most are found at elevations above 3,600'. They are uncommon in the dry forests of Waimea Canyon and the NaPali Coast, much of their population is found on the Alaka'i Plateau and Koke'e State Park.

Breeding and Nesting

Kauai Elepaio: One to three white eggs with red-brown markings are laid in a woven cup-shaped nest built in ohia and other trees. Both sexes incubate the eggs for 18 days. Chicks fledge after 16 days but continue to be fed by their parents for more than a month.

Foraging and Feeding

Kauai Elepaio: Forages in trees and on the ground for a wide variety of arthropods, most commonly insects and spiders.

Vocalization

Kauai Elepaio: A loud whistled "el-e-pai-o" song, chattering contact calls, and "chit-chit" or "whee-oo" alarm calls.