Kingdom Animalia Class Aves Family Fringillidae Scientific name Akialoa ellisiana | Phylum Chordata Order Passeriformes Subfamily Carduelinae Rank Subspecies | |
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Similar Akialoa, Lesser ʻakialoa, Maui Nui 'akialoa, Greater akialoa, Maui nukupuʻu | ||
The Oʻahu ʻakialoa (Akialoa ellisana) was a finch in the Fringillidae family. It was formerly considered a subspecies in the greater akialoa complex before being elevated to a full species. It was endemic to the island of Oʻahu in the Hawaiian Islands.
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Description
The bird was a long-billed insectivorous bird that was found in the high elevation forest. It was a dull colored species, dull green on the belly, bright green on rump and tail, dark olive-gray back and speckled yellow and green on the head. It was mainly an insectivore, using its bill to probe through the bark in search of arthropods, also using its long bill to probe flowers for nectar.
Status
Already endangered from the loss of habitat through forest clearance, it was susceptible to avian influenza, an introduced disease carried by mosquitoes. Scientists were sure that this bird was still common in the 1860s, evidence found by Perkins. Afterward, few reports came in, though two were presumed to be seen in 1933 and one in 1940.