Justification of Red List category
This species was found in O'ahu, Hawaii but it went extinct around the end of the 19th century. Perkins found evidence that many individuals existed in the forests of Oahu in 1860, but no collectors found any trace of it in the 1890s (Munro 1960).
Population justification
The species is extinct. Perkins found evidence that many individuals existed in the forests of Oahu in 1860, but no collectors found any trace of it in the 1890s (Munro 1960).
Hemignathus lucidus was endemic to O'ahu in the Hawaiian Islands, U.S.A., but it went extinct around the end of the 19th century. Perkins found evidence that many individuals existed in the forests of Oahu in 1860, but no collectors found any trace of it in the 1890s (Munro 1960).
It may have inhabited dense, wet `ohi`a forest and the higher parts of mesic koa-`ohi`a forest (Scott et al. 1986, Pratt et al. 1987).
This species went extinct sometime around the start of the 20th century. Deforestation cleared much lowland habitat. Multiple invasive species were already established on Oahu in the 19th century, with the arrival of Rattus rattus shortly followed by Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus in an attempt at control possibly having the most significant effect on Oahu Nukupu'u. If the species was not already extinct, the arrival of avian pox and avian malaria may have ensured extinction.
14 cm. Medium-sized honeycreeper with strongly downcurved "heterobill" in which mandible is half the length of maxilla. Similar spp. Kauai Amakihi Chlorodrepanis stejnegeri has paler bill, less head/back contrast, and dingier underparts. Maui Parrotbill Pseudonestor xanthophrys rather similar in plumage, but much heavier bill. Voice Song a short warble, call ke-wit, both similar to voice of Akiapolaau H. wilsoni of Hawai'i.
Text account compilers
Wheatley, H.
Contributors
Baker, H.C., Baker, P.E., Camp, R., Fretz, S., Gorresen, M., Isherwood, I., Morin, M., Stuart, T., Symes, A., Taylor, J., VanderWerf, E. & Woodworth, B.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Oahu Nukupuu Hemignathus lucidus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/oahu-nukupuu-hemignathus-lucidus on 10/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 10/12/2024.