Maui Alauahio
A species of 'Alauahios Scientific name : Paroreomyza montana Genus : 'Alauahios
Maui Alauahio, A species of 'Alauahios
Botanical name: Paroreomyza montana
Genus: 'Alauahios
Content
Description General Info
Photo By ALAN SCHMIERER from southeast AZ, USA , used under CC-ZERO /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
The Lānaʻi ʻalauahio (Paroreomyza montana montana) was found on much of the island of Lana'i in the Hawaiian archipelago. It apparently was common until the early 1900s, when there appeared to have been a steep decline in birds on the island. It was similar to the Maui alauahio and this species may have reacted similarly to its existing relative, to which it was considered conspecific. This bird was one of several to vanish from Lana'i, along with others such as the Lanai hookbill. The extinction of this species was mainly caused by habitat degradation. Apparently the many forest plants of Lana'i had become displaced, rare or even extinct as a result of human activity. With settlers came a host of invasive plants from Europe and other continents. The nail in the coffin for the 'alauahio may have been the destruction of forest associated with the construction of the island's main city, Lanai City. Though not much of its natural history is known, its song was recorded to be a simple chip that was sung at an interval of one chip every three seconds. It disappeared in 1937, the same year as the ʻula-ʻai-hawane disappeared on Hawaii.
Size
8 - 13 cm
Life Expectancy
8 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Feeding Habits
Maui Alauahio primarily consumes arthropods, including moth and beetle larvae, spiders, adult moths, ichneumonid wasps, and lacewings. Leafhoppers, select fruit boring larvae, and some nectar also supplement its diet. It forages actively for these items, showcasing specialized feeding behaviors tailored to its varied diet.
Habitat
The maui Alauahio inhabits montane mesic and wet forests, primarily dominated by 'öhi'a trees, as well as sub-alpine mämane scrublands. These ecosystems range from dry to mesic and are characterized by a variety of native plants, including koa trees forming open canopies, and a rich understory of ferns, grasses, sedges, and epiphytic mosses. Epiphytes are common, with lichens less diverse in the drier sub-alpine zone. In some parts, the habitat degrades into alien montane forests with conifers and eucalyptus species, where native flora persists in steeper gulches.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Photo By ALAN SCHMIERER from southeast AZ, USA , used under CC-ZERO /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Finches Genus
'Alauahios Species
Maui Alauahio