Birdsong field guide
Kakawahie
Paroreomyza flammea
The Kakawahie, also known as the Molokai Creeper, was a vibrant, flame-colored honeycreeper endemic to the island of Molokai that is now considered extinct.
What it sounds like
A series of sharp, rhythmic 'chip' or 'tchep' notes that mimicked the sound of wood being chopped or split.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto
Field notes
- Its name 'Kakawahie' translates to 'splitting firewood' in Hawaiian, a reference to the sharp, snapping sound of its call.
- The adult males were legendary for their intense scarlet-orange plumage, which led early naturalists to describe them as looking like 'balls of fire' in the canopy.
- Sexual dimorphism was pronounced in the species; while males were brilliant red, females and juveniles were primarily olive-green or brownish with pale yellow accents.
- The species was primarily an insectivore, using its short, straight bill to glean spiders and insects from the bark and moss of native trees.
- Last seen in 1963, its extinction is largely attributed to habitat destruction and the introduction of avian malaria via mosquitoes.
Habitat
High-elevation montane wet forests, particularly those dominated by 'ōhi'a lehua trees.
Range
Endemic to the island of Molokai, Hawaii.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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