Kauai Elepaio

The Kauaʻi ʻelepaio, a monarch flycatcher endemic to the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, presents a striking appearance. Adult birds exhibit a grey head and back, contrasted by a white supercilium and a rusty-red breast, leading to a white underside. The young, however, are cloaked in a uniform rusty color above, with a white belly below.

Identification Tips

To identify the Kauaʻi ʻelepaio, look for the distinctive white supercilium and the contrast between the grey upperparts and rusty-red breast in adults. Juveniles are more uniformly rusty above. Both age groups share similar wing and tail patterns, although the young have rusty stippling on the wings instead of white.

Habitat

This species is a denizen of the Alakai Wilderness on Kauai, where it flits among the native flora.

Distribution

The Kauaʻi ʻelepaio is confined to the island of Kauai in Hawaii.

Conservation Status

The Kauaʻi ʻelepaio is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The population experienced a significant decline in the latter part of the 20th century, but recent observations suggest a 13% increase in population density on the Alakai plateau. Whether this is a sign of recovery or a natural fluctuation is yet to be determined.