Hawaii Elepaio

Overview

The Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis) is a monarch flycatcher native to the Big Island of Hawaii. Classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List, this species is divided into three subspecies that differ in ecological requirements and head colouration.

Identification

• The Kona ʻelepaio features a whitish forehead and supercilium with some rusty feathers.
• The Mauna Kea ʻelepaio has its entire head heavily washed with white.
• Subspecies differ primarily in head coloration, consistent with Gloger's Rule regarding their specific habitats.

Habitat

Found on the Big Island of Hawaii, the species inhabits a variety of forests depending on the subspecies, ranging from mesic koa and ʻōhiʻa lehua forest to rainforests with hāpuʻu and dry māmane-naio forest. The rarest subspecies, the Mauna Kea ʻelepaio, is restricted to the leeward slopes of Mauna Kea.

Did you know?

The genus name Chasiempis is derived from the Ancient Greek words khaskō, meaning 'to gape', and empis, meaning 'mosquito' or 'gnat'.