Habitat
Maui Alauahio occur mainly in wet mountain forest dominated by native ohia trees. They also inhabit subalpine mamane scrub and dry mountain forest composed primarily of pines and other non-native trees.
Back to topFood
Maui Alauahio feed mainly on spiders and the larvae and pupae of moths, as well as beetle larvae, adult moths, wasps, lacewings, and leafhoppers. They also take some nectar, but this is not a major part of the diet. Maui Alauahio forage mostly on leaves and large branches, where they pluck arthropods, probe under epiphytes and loose bark, fly short distances in pursuit of flying insects, and sever and unfurl rolled-up leaves to look for prey inside.
Back to topNesting
Nest Placement
Usually placed in a cluster of leafy twigs in the outer part of a tree. Sometimes, especially in non-native conifers, the nest is placed on a major branch. Nest is normally built about 2/3 of the way up a tree, with an average height of about 9 meters (30 feet).
Nest Description
An open cup, typically oval, but varying in shape, size, and composition. Nests in ohia forest are built mainly with mosses and lichens, while nests in subalpine mamane scrub are made mostly from lichens or a mix of lichens and grass. Nests in non-native forest can be made entirely of moss, lichen, or grass, or a combination.
Nesting Facts
| Egg Description: | Typically creamy off-white, but sometimes with green, blue, or gray tones. Lavender, brown, or gray spots or blotches are scattered over the whole egg and concentrated at the wide end. |
Behavior
Maui Alauahio are agile birds, capable of climbing up and down trunks and navigating the upper and underside of branches. They typically fly only short distances and do not venture above the forest canopy. The one exception to this is when males perform song flights that may take them up to 20 meters (66 feet) above the canopy. Maui Alauahio can be very aggressive, with pairs frequently chasing other alauahio and some other honeycreepers.
Maui Alauahio do not attain full adult plumage for several years and do not breed until their third year. They live in small family groups that consist of two adults, one or two immature birds from the previous breeding season, and one or two young from the current season. Immature birds from the previous breeding season serve as helpers at active nests, assisting with feeding the female, nestlings, and fledglings. The female alone builds the nest, incubates the eggs, and broods the young.
Back to topConservation
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists Maui Alauahio's conservation status as Endangered and estimates the global population at 60,000–70,000 mature individuals. The IUCN notes Maui Alauahio’s very small and contracting range, an apparent population decline, and high susceptibility to avian malaria, which has been expanding upslope due to climate change.
Back to topCredits
Baker, P. E. and H. Baker (2020). Maui Alauahio (Paroreomyza montana), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.mauala.01
BirdLife International. 2023. Paroreomyza montana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023: e.T22720818A224944120. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T22720818A224944120.en.
Floyd, Ted (2025). Field Guide to the Birds of the United States and Canada. Eighth edition. National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C.
Pratt, H.D., Bruner, P.L. and Berrett, D.G. (1987). A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, New Jersey.
Raine, H. and A. F. Raine (2020). American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Hawai'i. Scott & Nix, Inc. New York, NY, USA.
Stokes, L. Q. and M. A. Young (2024). The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada. Little, Brown and Company, New York, NY, USA.