Apapane: From Beautiful birds of Hawaii Photos

Apapane: (A Beautiful Red Bird of Hawaii)

Apapane is a native Hawaiian bird that has a great adaption ability. The female of these birds has a deep red plumage, and males has black with a reddish-brown plumage.

These beautiful honeycreeper birds belongs to nectar feeding group. These birds play very important role in the pollination of native Hawaiian plants.

Apapane on ‘ōhi‘a tree

Apapane moves in flocks and is a native bird of Kauai. This Hawaiian honeycreeper fly over the forest from plat to plant in search of nectars.

The bird eat insects present on the from upper parts of trees. They move very fast and due to its bright colors, it is a famous bird of nature enthusiast and bird watchers.

Scientific Name and Taxonomic Information

Scientific NameHimatione sanguine
Local NameHawaiian Honeycreeper

The family of these bird is Fringillidae, which includes finches and honeycreepers. Its genus Himatione and scientific name is Himatione sanguinea.

Cultural Significance

Apapane holds a special place in Hawaiian culture. Its bright red plumage is used for feather cloaks and headdresses worn by chiefs and fighters that symbolizes bird’s beauty and significance. This cultural connection is a sense of respect and admiration for the bird among the Hawaiian people.

Apapane enjoying ‘ōhi‘a tree flower nectar lower side
Apapane Love Nectar and in Return Pollinate ‘Ōhi’a

Sounds & Songs

The bird also makes musical calls that can be heard in the Hawaiian forests. Males are noisy, with at least six vocalizations and ten different types of songs.

These consist of a number of clicks, whistles, and trills, making it one of the most familiar songbirds in Hawaii. Their songs add life to the forest canopy, whether they are calling to their mates or performing a part of the courtship ritual.

Conservation Status

Even though it is often stated as one of the most numerous species of Hawaiian honeycreepers. But their populations is under threat due to habitat loss, incoming predators, and ailments like avian malaria and avian pox.

Despite the status given to this bird on the IUCN Red List, which is classified as least concerned, but it require conservation efforts due to its susceptibility to diseases, particularly that are transmitted by mosquitoes.

Habitat Range

Apapane loves to live on high altitudinal rainforests of Hawaiian Islands, and its habitat ranges from 1,250 meters and above. Such forests are full of native plant species, including ‘Ōhi’a and Koa that provide nectars and nesting sites to these birds.

Apapane enjoying ‘ōhi‘a tree flower nector
Apapane enjoying ‘ōhi‘a tree flower nectar

Distribution of the Bird

This is a native bird that live on many Hawaiian Islands, including the big islands, Maui, and Kaua‘i.

  • The bird increase its population in forests in O‘ahu, especially along the Ko‘olau and Wai‘anae mountain slopes.
  • In past the bird used to inhabit at lower altitude, but today it moves due to its habitat loss and diseases.
  • The bird is vulnerable and can hardly be seen on the islands of Molokai and Lanai.

Threats to the Species

This is a slightly more resistant species among Hawaiian honeycreepers but it has several issues. The biggest risk identified is disease; two major diseases were found to be present within these birds that are avian malaria and avian pox.

These diseases are spread through the mosquito. Other threats are habitat destruction, competitor birds, and predation from feral animals like cats and mongoose.

Nesting

The bird create their nests in native forests on ‘ōhi‘a trees or any other native trees. Both male and female birds are involved in nest making, and is a small cup-shaped made from twigs, leaves, and other plant materials.

The nest is normally constructed in a very concealed area to shield the young from predators. In this subspecies, the females incubate the eggs while the males feed them away from the eggs. The red birds roosts are small camps where future generations of these vivid-colored birds will start their lives.

Breeding and Feeding

Cohabiting time for this bird is usually during spring and summer, although it may vary depending on feeding conditions. The female normally lays three eggs, which will take approximately two weeks to incubate. After hatching the eggs, both sexes contribute to feeding the nestlings.

It mainly feeds honey pot and insects to its young ones. Fledglings depend on their parents, and young birds of 4 months are capable of foraging on their own.

FAQ

Yes, but due to the conservation efforts its population is going to increase day by day.

Conclusion

The Apapane is a most abundant and beautiful bird that is native to Hawaii. It is a small but colorful bird and pollinate native plants. However, this bird is facing threats, such as diseases, loss of its natural habitat, and climate change like many birds within the region.

To maintain the conservation of this bird in Hawaii, the following measures should be put in place: Protect forests and control diseases to ensure that future our generations are blessed with the sight and sound of these birds in the Hawaii forests. This beautiful bird will remain secure in its habitat by protecting standard’s environment for years to come.

References & External Links

  1. Taxonomic information of Apapane

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