The palila, a critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper, is known for its vibrant yellow head and robust beak.
Conservation Status
Federal
Endangered
🔶
State
Endangered
🔶
State recognized
Endemic
💛
As of 2022, there are less than 700 individual birds left in the wild and they are found exclusively on the slopes of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii (American Bird Conservancy, n.d.).
Species Description
The palila is a small Hawaiian honeycreeper with a bright yellow head, olive-green back, and grey wings and tail. It has a stout, finch-like beak adapted for feeding on the seeds of the mamane tree, its primary food source.
Adult males and females are similar in coloring; males tend to be slightly larger in size than females.
Photo credit: Palila on branch, Hawaii, USA – cropped (Arrigoni, B., 2012)
Threats and Conservation
The palila faces severe threats due to habitat loss and invasive species. Conservation efforts focus on restoring its native habitat on Mauna Kea by removing invasive plants like gorse and promoting the growth of māmane trees, the bird’s primary food source. Initiatives also include predator control to reduce the impact of feral cats, mongoose, and rats, as well as captive breeding programs to increase the palila population. Collaborative efforts between local communities, government agencies, and conservation organizations aim to protect this unique species and its fragile ecosystem.
Nature Art
Keulemans’ (1879) painting captures the bird’s distinct features with remarkable detail and vibrant colors. My painting (Smith, 2024) composes a male and female palilo perched in a mamane tree. Kam’s 9’x12′ mural is displayed near the Hilo Market on the Big Island.
References
Click here to see the amazing references used for this post
American Bird Conservancy. (n.d.). ABC birding: Palila forest discovery trail, Hawai’i. American Bird Conservancy. Retrieved September 23, 2024, from https://abcbirds.org/abc-birding-palila-forest-discovery-trail-hawaii/
Arrigoni, B. (2012) Palila on branch, Hawaii, USA – cropped [photograph]. CC BY 2.0 Retrieved September 23, 2024, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palila_on_branch.jpg
Kam, K. (n.d.). Palila 9’x12′ mural [photograph of painting]. Photo taken Aug 2, 2024.
Keulemans (1879). Loxioides bailleui. ]photograph of painting]. Public Domain. Retrieved September 23, 2024, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LoxioidesBailleuiKeulemans.jpg
Inga J Smith 
