The Palila is a pretty species of Hawaiian honeycreeper. Like many others in this family, the Palila is considered to be Critically Endangered. Among the threats it faces is habitat loss from deforestation.
The Palila is a Hawaiian endemic, found only on the big island of Hawaii. They are found in forest habitat at an elevation between 2,000 and 3,000 meters.
The Palila is dependent on the Mamane tree, which is a major source for both food and nesting sites. These special finches have highly adpated beaks to feed on the seed pods of the mamane tree. They also eat flowers, leaves, buds, nectar, and other material from the trees, in addition to feeding on insects that also live in the trees.
Today our 2018 Bonanza continues with a Hawaiian species of honeycreeper: the Palila! Many species of Hawaiian honeycreeper are endangered or face threats, and the Palila is no different, unfortunately. The Palila is considered to be critically endangered, due in part to... Read more »
