Order Passeriformes Scientific name Hemignathus Rank Genus | Phylum Chordata Family Fringillidae Tribe Hemignathini Higher classification Hawaiian honeycreeper | |
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Lower classifications Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi, ʻAkiapolaʻau, ʻAnianiau, Lesser ʻakialoa, Kauaʻi ʻamakihi | ||
Hemignathus is a Hawaiian honeycreeper genus in the finch family, Fringillidae. These birds are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.
Many of its species became extinct during the 19th and 20th centuries due to a combination of habitat destruction, introduced predators, and most importantly mosquito-borne diseases. Some others became extinct in prehistoric times, when Polynesian settlers deforested the lowlands for agriculture.
Systematics
(Sub)Genus Hemignathus sensu stricto - pointed or long and downcurved bills, insectivores or nectarivores. The Nukupu‘u:
(Sub)Genus Heterorhynchus - long and downcurved upper and short and stout lower bill, probes for insects
References
Hemignathus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA