Overview

Oahu Elepaio: Small monarch flycatcher. Crown and back are dark brown, white underparts with buff flanks and breast. White lores, dark ear patch, rufous forehead. Black throat feathers have white tips. Wingbars, rump are white, long brown tail is white-tipped. Black bill, dark gray legs and feet.

Oahu Elepaio: Endemic to Oahu. Several small and declining populations are found in wet mixed species forests in the Waianaes and Southern Ko'olau Mountain ranges. Most common from 650' to 2,600' on slopes and in valleys.

Voice Text

"el-e-pai-o", "chit-chit"

• It is considered the guardian spirit of canoe makers, who noticed that koa trees frequented by these birds often harbored large insect populations that would make them unsuited for use as a canoe.
• It is the first native bird to sing in the morning. Its song was thought to warn night spirits that dawn was approaching and their work must end.
• The Elepaio was named by the ancient Hawaiians after the sound of its song.
• A group of flycatchers has many collective nouns, including an "outfield", "swatting", "zapper", and "zipper" of flycatchers.

Author

Crystal Adams

Artist

Yury Lisyak