Hawaiian Birds
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The apapane is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper, that is endemic to Hawaii. .Feeding on the Mamane flowers Hosmer Grove Maui Hawaii
Hosmer Grove Maui Hawaii. 11 degrees Celius and foggy and rainy. Even in paradise up in the Mountains you can get cold miserable weather. Lucky to see 10 ft. in front of me :-((
I found these guys to be more challenging than the I'iwi. I found a nice area where they seemed to favor. Not my closest shot, but my favorite of this particular endemic species on this trip.
I just got in this morning from Maui. My primary targets were the endemic birds first and foremost. It took me three tries to get a clean close shot of this wary species. After 2 days of watching them I figured that they fancied this one area of brush. That day I hid in some dense shrubs and finally nailed the shot. I did get some other ones, but this one definitely was the shot I had hoped to get. I had processed this with a cool tone version and a warm tone. I actually liked the warmer one better. Taken just at sunset in the shade.
On a ōhiʻa lehua tree on a cloudy day @ Hosmer Grove, Haleakalā National Park, Haleakalā, Maui, Hawai'i
Most common Hawaiian Honeycreeper on the island of Kauai. They love to feed on the nectar of Ohia tree flowers. They make a notable wing flutter when they fly. I miss hearing it in the forest.
I've been away stacking up photos on mini excursions elsewhere. Before I get ahead of myself I wanted to keep up with my Maui files. This shot was of the iconic endemic bird I'iwi. Taken at sunset. He was calling continuously on the native Mamane bush. These guys are much easier to shoot than the Apapane.
Koke'e State Park, Kauai, Hawaii
While Tom hiked down the Pihea Trail, I staked out some particularly fresh looking blossoms of ohia lehua, and shot about 600 frames of the 'apapane that came to work those blossoms.
This year it appeared to be a lot easier to find the few species of honeycreepers that remain findable on Kauai up in the park, and not down in the Alakai Swamp.
We spent many hours in Hosmer Grove on Maui, a great spot to find endemic species: Apapane, Amakihi, ‘Alauahio, even a flyby by Nene and Pueo. The most common were the I’iwi, who are bullies and very vocal, with quite a vocabulary.
Koke'e State Park, Kauai
An endemic (native) nectar-feeding Hawaiian bird found in Ohia Tree habitat over 3000' elevation.
Reporting in from Hawaii just after our photo tour here. The ʻapapane (Himatione sanguinea) is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper that is endemic to Hawaii. We see it here feeding on blossoms of a plumb tree.
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I had so much trouble getting a photo of one of these beauties. Every time I saw one, it was either flying way over head or at the very top of the canopy. I finally managed to spot some when on a path that wound up towards the treetops as I exited the Kaulana Manu trail.
Koke'e State Park, Kauai
An endemic (native) nectar-feeding Hawaiian bird found in Ohia Tree habitat over 3000' elevation.
Does this composition work? It's not traditional, I like the circular movement it gives the eye, but . . . I'm just not sure. What do you think?
Himatione sanguinea, Apapane
One of the most beautiful endemic honeycreepers of the Hawaii; most of these species are now vulnerable or endangered;
Hakalau forest wildlife refuge, Big Island, Hawaii, Oct.11, 2025
HD: www.flickr.com/photos/202720379@N03/54854681079/sizes/o/
The ʻApapane (Himatione sanguinea) is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper that is endemic to Hawaii. The bright crimson feathers of the ʻApapane were once used to adorn the ʻahuʻula (capes), mahiole (helmets), and nā lei hulu (feather leis) of aliʻi (Hawaiian nobility). ʻApapane form small flocks when foraging through the canopies of ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) trees, drinking nectar from the flowers and simultaneously pollinating them. They never forage on the forest floor. When flowering of ʻōhiʻa is low and if not part of a flock, ʻApapane will be chased away from flowers by more aggressive competing birds such as the ʻakohekohe and ʻiʻiwi.[2] (wikepedia)
'apapane, Himatione sanguinea, 5.1 in. / 13 cm. COMMON and Endemic Hawaiian honeycreeper. Most abundant and widely distributed honeycreeper in native mesic and wet forest dominated by ōhi'a and koa trees.
KoKe'e State Park, Waimea Canyon, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, United States.
©bryanjsmith.
An endemic flower that colonizes recent lava flows, nourishes endemic birds such as the Apapane, and looms large in Hawaiian legend. And gorgeous.
Big Island of Hawaii, October, 2022.
While looking for the skittish Apapane, this Maui Amakihi popped up right in front of my face. I just stayed still and let that shutter run. I thought I was too close for it to focus, but luckily I got lots of sharp takes.
Kokee State Park, Kauai
North of Waimea Canyon on Kauai’s West Side is Kokee State Park. Spread over 4,345 acres on a plateau 3,200 to 4,200 feet above sea level, Kokee State Park is covered in forest, wild flowers and hiking trails making it an excellent spot to see native plants and colorful endemic Hawaiian forest birds like the apapane, iwi and moa. The park also offers roughly 45 miles of the state's finest hiking trails. Some trails lead to views of Waimea Canyon, others wind through wet forests with sweeping views of valleys opening up to the North Shore. Source: gohawaii.com, Hawaii Tourism Authority.
iPhone photo, PP in Snapseed.
© 2016 Skip Plitt, All Rights Reserved.
This photo may not be used in any form without permission from the photographer.
Todos los derechos reservados. Esta foto no se puede utilizar en cualquier forma sin el permiso del fotógrafo.
This red, black, and white honeycreepers was in the Hosmer Grove on Haleakala Volcano. It is 1 of 6 very rare Native Honeycreepers.
The ʻApapane can be found on six of the eight windward Hawaiian islands, where it resides at high altitudes to protect itself from predators like small Asian mongooses, rats, and deadly avian malaria carrying mosquitoes. These predators are the cause of great declines in the ʻApapane population. The total population of the ʻApapane was estimated at more than 1,300,000 in 1995.[4] Although still low in numbers, the ʻApapane is not considered to be an endangered species. The species has the highest prevalence of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum). This is because seasonal migrations to lower elevation forest put it in contact with mosquitoes, which are absent from the best ʻApapane habitat.[3] Malaria is a blood parasite, and death is usually cause by anemia, the loss of red blood cells.[5] Fowlpox (Poxvirus avium) is a virus lethal to ʻApapane, which, like avian malaria, is transmitted by mosquitoes. Fowlpox causes wart-like lesions to form around the bird's eyes, beak, legs, or feet, inhibiting feeding, seeing, or perching.[6] Birds infected with fowlpox are more at risk to be infected with malaria.[3] It is believed that at least a small portion of the population is becoming resistant to malaria, as some pairs have been seen breeding in mid-elevation forests where the rate of malaria transmission is high.[2]
I made my very first trip to the Hawaiian Islands this past week. I was able to sneak out and travel up to Haleakala National park to try my hand at the endemics. I had gotten one opportunity to capture this skittish Warbler sized Hawaiian honeycreeper. I heard many of them but they seemed to be quite skulky that morning. I had to shoot between two bushes to get this clear shot. You will only find this species in Hawaii. Click image to see the full view :)
Ohi'a lehua flower, Metrosideros polymorpha, 66 - 82 ft / 20 - 25 m. Most COMMON ENDEMIC tree found in all the islands. Important tree to 'Apapane, Himatione sanguinea, and 'I'iwa, Vestiaria coccinea, as well as other native birds that feed on its nectar. Official flower of Hawai'i (Big Island).
Koke'e State Park, Kaua'i, Hawai'ian Islands, United States.
©bryanjsmith.
The Apapane is one of Hawai'i's endemic honeycreepers. Endemic means that you will find this bird only in Hawaii and nowhere else in the world. It and about 40 other species are thought to have derived from a single finch like ancestor over millions of years. Many of these remaining honeycreepers are endangered as the results of invasive species that entered Hawaii along with man. These invasive species compete for some of the same food sources and some of them do it more efficiently. Some carry and are resistant to a variety of bird diseases that adversely effect the apapane and other honeycreepers. Of course, if you think about it, the original finch that arrived in Hawaii millions of years ago was also a new or invasive species. So, nature changes things all the time. In fact, the nature of nature is change! We, arguably, may be one of nature's most invasive species. Our adaptability has allowed us to enter and thrive in a wide variety of nature's niches. As a result we will surely affect change but we have the ability to limit that change, if we so choose. If we are not careful, the things that we do today can adversely effect our environment tomorrow. Even things done with the best of intentions can have serious negative effects. Change is inevitable but we are intelligent enough to make smart choices. #ILoveWildlife #ILoveNature #ILoveBirds #ILoveScience #WildlifePhotography in #Hawaii #Nature on the #HawaiianIslands #Birds #Birding #Photography #Apapane #Picoftheday #Photooftheday
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Oahu, is one of the eight islands that make up the State of Hawaii, and its home to 75% of Hawaii’s culturally dense population. In Hawaii, you can expect to encounter those with Polynesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Filipino, and Chinese backgrounds to name only a few. Culture though, is only one aspect of life’s diversity here.
Those living in or visiting Oahu enjoy city living, and then, with only a short-drive also enjoy the tranquil geographic highlights of a tropical island. In cities, like Honolulu, high-rise hotels, condominiums, and resorts line the shore with exquisite dining and shopping closeby. And then, in minutes, one has access to beaches, extinct volcanoes, rainforests and waterfalls.
Though there’s much to do in Oahu, popular during one’s visit is a hike through a rainforest. Whether seeking a view, or a little bit of exercise, it’s easy to overlook the ecological impact of the rainforests. Tropical rainforests, like those on Oahu, recovers roughly 80 inches of water every year. They’re known to be home to half the animal and plant species on earth. And, in Oahu’s Waimea Valley, 5,500 species of plants bloom, leaving it one of the most biologically diverse forests on the planet.
A simple jaunt along a small path leaves you moving past endemic plant and bird species - species only found here. You might see Hala which produces a pineapple-shaped flower, hau a sea hibiscus known to reach 33 feet, or a rainbow eucalyptus - a tree who sheds its bark in bright strips of colour. Overhead or on branches, you might encounter a nene goose - Hawaii’s state bird; or a red feathered apapane. Even along the ground, you’d move past snails, spiders, caterpillars, and dragonflies.
Visiting Oahu, I took this image from an outlook that overlooked the city below. I was in this spot for an hour, watching the fog roll in and out, hiding and revealing the mountaintop as it went. I love the mysterious nature of fog. The rock here, a subtle reminder of Hawaii’s volcanic creation, adds depth when contrasted with the lush green vegetation enveloping it.
Perhaps recognizing the importance of conservation, this peak acts like The Guardian as it sits knowingly above the rest of Oahu.
Himatione sanguinea, Apapane
One of the most beautiful endemic honeycreepers of the Hawaii; most of these species are now vulnerable or endangered;
Hakalau forest wildlife refuge, Big Island, Hawaii, Oct.2025
HD: www.flickr.com/photos/202720379@N03/54933456491/sizes/o/