Kauai oo

Description

The Kauaʻi ʻōʻō or ʻōʻōʻāʻā (Moho braccatus) is a member of the extinct genus of the ʻōʻōs (Moho) within the extinct family Mohoidae from the islands of Hawai'i.It was previously regarded as member of the Australo-Pacific honeyeaters (Meliphagidae).This bird was endemic to the island of Kauaʻi.It was common in the subtropical forests of the island until the early twentieth century,when its decline began.Its song was last heard in 1987 and it is now probably extinct.The causes of its extinction include the introduction of the Polynesian rat,domestic pig,and mosquitoes carrying avian disease (avian malaria and avian pox),as well as habitat destruction.This bird was among the smallest of the Hawaiian honeyeaters,if not the smallest species,at just over 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length.The head,wings,and tail were black.The rest of the upperparts were slaty brown,becoming rufous on the rump and flanks.The throat and breast was black with white barring,which was particularly prominent in females.The central tail feathers were long,and there was a small tuft of gray feathers under the base of the wing.While the beak and legs were black,the leg feathers were a rich golden yellow.It was the only ‘ō’ō known to have eyes with yellow irises.It was named the ʻōʻō ʻāʻā by the natives which means dwarf ʻōʻō.Like other honeyeaters it had a sharp,slightly curved bill for sampling nectar.Its favored nectar sources were Lobelia species and the ʻohiʻa lehua tree.This species was additionally observed foraging in lapalapa trees.It also ate small invertebrates and fruit.The Kauaʻi ʻōʻō was very vocal,making hollow,erratic,flute-like calls.Both the males and females were known to sing.