Rising Tide Images
Leiothrix and Guava
This strikingly colorful and lively little bird is enjoying an abundance of summer ripening strawberry guava along a Koolau hiking trail. It sings a melodic song, but is most noticed when loudly chattering a harsh warning at passing hikers from the rainforest understory, usually peeking through several layers of foliage at the recipient of its chatter. Native to southern China, the red-billed leiothrix was a popular cage bird released into the wild in Hawaii a century ago. Strawberry guava is a tasty treat while hiking, though considered an invasive species and allelopathic, choking out native forests. Sorry if the photo title sounds like a dessert recipe.
Leiothrix and Guava
This strikingly colorful and lively little bird is enjoying an abundance of summer ripening strawberry guava along a Koolau hiking trail. It sings a melodic song, but is most noticed when loudly chattering a harsh warning at passing hikers from the rainforest understory, usually peeking through several layers of foliage at the recipient of its chatter. Native to southern China, the red-billed leiothrix was a popular cage bird released into the wild in Hawaii a century ago. Strawberry guava is a tasty treat while hiking, though considered an invasive species and allelopathic, choking out native forests. Sorry if the photo title sounds like a dessert recipe.