General

Iiwi: Vibrant red plumage overall with black wings and tail. Wings show contrasting white patch on inner secondaries. Salmon-colored bill is long and decurved. Sexes are similar. Legs and feet are pink. Juveniles have ivory or light brown bills bills and black-tipped, green feathers that fade to yellow as they age. May show some red on scapulars or face. Wings and tail are gray-black.

Range and Habitat

Iiwi: Large colonies exist on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai, comon in wet forests at hight elevations. There are less than 50 individuals on the lower elevation islands of Oahu and Molokai, and they are now extinct on Lanai. Prefers to keep hidden among the leaves.

Breeding and Nesting

Iiwi: Two to four white eggs with reddish brown marks are laid in a cup nest of twigs, ferns, and lichens built in the crown of the 'ohi'a tree. Breeding can occur as early as October and continue through August. The female incubates the eggs for 14 days, chicks fledge 21 to 24 days after hatching.

Foraging and Feeding

Iiwi: Feeds mostly on the nectar of the 'ohi'a flower but will take other nectar and insects from the understory. They are very aggressive and will chase away smaller species from their feeding trees.

Vocalization

Iiwi: Song is an unusual collection of whistles, the sound of balls dropping in water, the rubbing of balloons together, and the squeaking of a rusty hinge.

Similar Species

Iiwi: Apapane has a shorter, less curved black bill, is a more crimson color, and has white undertail coverts and lower abdomen.