Palila

The palila (Loxioides bailleui), a finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper, is a critically endangered bird with a striking appearance. It boasts a golden-yellow head and breast, a light belly, and a gray back. The wings and tail are tinged with greenish hues. This species is one of the largest living Hawaiian honeycreepers, with males averaging a body mass of 38.1 grams and females slightly less at 37.6 grams.

Identification Tips

Adult palila can be identified by their heavy, dark bill with swollen sides, brown iris, and dark feet with yellowish soles. Males typically exhibit brighter colors and distinct black lores, while females have a less contrasting dirty-yellow head. The bird measures approximately 6–7.5 inches in length.

Habitat

Palila are found on the upper slopes of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaiʻi, preferring a habitat mix of māmane and māmane-naio dry forest, interspersed with grasslands, pūkiawe shrubland on lava fields, and other native understory vegetation.

Distribution

The palila's current range is restricted to elevations between 6,500 and 9,500 feet on Mauna Kea. Historically, the species was also present on Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, but it has not been recorded outside the island of Hawaiʻi since European arrival.

Behaviour

Palila are closely associated with the māmane tree, rarely venturing far from its stands. They exhibit a seasonal movement, starting to feed on seeds at higher elevations and moving downslope. During droughts, when seeds are scarce, most palila do not breed.

Song & Calls

The palila's song is a subtle mix of whistling, warbling, and trilling notes. Its call, however, is a distinctive, clear, bell-like whistle, often heard as "chee-clee-o" or "te-cleet," especially during the morning and evening or when rain is imminent.

Breeding

Breeding occurs from February to September. The female builds a cup-shaped nest in māmane or naio trees, using materials such as grasses, stems, and lichen. Clutch size is typically two eggs, with both parents feeding the young through regurgitation.

Similar Species

While there are no similar species mentioned, the palila's unique bill shape and coloration make it distinctive among Hawaiian honeycreepers.

Diet and Feeding

The palila's diet consists mainly of immature māmane seeds, which contain toxins that the birds can tolerate. They also consume naio berries, māmane flowers, buds, young leaves, and caterpillars, particularly those of Cydia species. The bird's bill is specially adapted to open Fabales pods to access the seeds.

Conservation Status

The palila is listed as Critically Endangered. Efforts to preserve its habitat are ongoing, including a captive breeding program at the San Diego Zoo's Keauhou Bird Conservation Center. A reintroduction attempt was made in May 2019 to establish a second population.

In the gentle whispers of the Hawaiian forests, the palila continues its delicate dance of survival, a golden gem among the emerald canopies, its future intertwined with the fate of the māmane trees.