Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio

Updated on Dec 18, 2024

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Kingdom Animalia Subclass Neornithes Superorder Neoaves Scientific name Chasiempis sandwichensis Rank Species		Phylum Chordata Infraclass Neognathae Order Passeriformes Higher classification ‘Elepaio

Similar ‘Elepaio, Bird, O'ahu ʻelepaio, Kauaʻi ʻelepaio, Monarch flycatcher

The Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis), also Hawaiian ʻelepaio, is a monarch flycatcher found on the Big Island of Hawaii. Until 2010, all three ʻelepaio species, the Kauaʻi ʻelepaio (C. sclateri), the Oʻahu ʻelepaio (C. ibidis) and this species were considered conspecific.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio was originally classified in the genus Muscicapa.

Subspecies

The three subspecies on the Big Island differ in their ecological requirements and head coloration (see also Gloger's Rule):

C. s. sandwichensis - (Gmelin, 1789): The Kona ʻelepaio. It differs from the volcano subspecies by having the forehead and the supercilium whitish with some rusty feathers. It inhabits mesic forest characterized by koa (Acacia koa) and ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha); its population seems to be stable at about 60,000–65,000.

C. s. ridgwayi - Stejneger, 1887: The volcano ʻelepaio. Originally described as a separate species. This is the most common subspecies today, with a population of around 100,000–150,000, or more than half of the total number of ʻelepaio. It is a bird of the rainforest, which on Hawaiʻi are characterized by ʻōhiʻa lehua and hāpuʻu (Cibotium tree ferns).

C. s. bryani - Pratt, 1979: The Mauna Kea ʻelepaio. It is only found in the māmane (Sophora chrysophylla ) – naio (Myoporum sandwicense) dry forest on the leeward slopes of Mauna Kea. It has the entire head heavily washed with white. Due to destruction of most of its habitat, it is the rarest Big Island subspecies, with a population of 2,000–2,500 birds.

References

Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

Subspecies

References