Puaiohi
Encyclopedia
The Puaiohi or Small Kauai Thrush ((Myadestes palmeri) is a rare species of songbird
in the thrush
family, Turdidae, that is endemic to the Hawaii
an island of Kauai
. It is closely related to the other four endemic Hawaiian thrushes, the Kāmao, Olomao, Ōmao, and [[ʻĀmaui|Āmaui]]. It was first collected by Henry Palmer in 1891 at Halemanu around the entrance to the Kōkee State Park
.
and berries
, the remainder being insect
s and other invertebrate
s. Important food sources include fruits of the native olapa (Cheirodendron trigynum
), lapalapa (C. platyphyllum
), ōhia ha (Syzygium sandwicensis
) and kanawao (Broussaisia arguta
). In the breeding season, over fifty percent of the diet shifts to invertebrates. The song is varied, consisting of a simple till to a complex wheezing, and high pitched squeal described as a squeaking rather resembling a metal wheel needing lubrication. Males can be found singing throughout the year, but do so with increasing frequency as breeding season approaches, peaking from April to May. Nesting has been recorded as early as March, to as late as mid-September. Nests are built in cavities or ledges of cliff
faces, concealed by moss
es and fern
s, but tree cavities are also used. Females are the sole nest builders, which can take up to 7 days. She also incubates the eggs, and broods and feeds the young birds while still in the nest. Eggs (usually 2 in are laid in the wild) are colored grayish-green to a muted greenish-blue with irregular reddish-brown splotches. Eggs hatch after 13–15 days. After fledging, the males become primary food providers to the young, while the female attempts a second brood. Females will also attempt to renest if the first attempt fails.
also has been shown to affect many birds, but a few birds have shown some resistance. (C. Atkinson, USGS, unpublished data). Feral domesticated livestock (pigs and goats) also negatively affect populations of birds by degrading habitat, as has competition from many invasive plants and animals. The Puaihoi was added to the United States Federal Endangered Species list on March 11, 1967.
In 1995, a captive breeding program was established. Some birds from this program are now being taken back to the Alakai to supplement the wild population.
Songbird
A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds . Another name that is sometimes seen as scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin oscen, "a songbird"...
in the thrush
Thrush (bird)
The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...
family, Turdidae, that is endemic to the Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
. It is closely related to the other four endemic Hawaiian thrushes, the Kāmao, Olomao, Ōmao, and [[ʻĀmaui|Āmaui]]. It was first collected by Henry Palmer in 1891 at Halemanu around the entrance to the Kōkee State Park
Koke'e State Park
Kōkee State Park is located in northwestern Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. It includes a museum at the marker on State Road 550, which focuses on the weather, vegetation, and bird life; a lodge which serves food and sells gifts; cabins for rent; and hiking trails...
.
Description
The plumage is mostly nondescript, with slaty-brown upperparts and a light gray breast and belly below. Birds have a black bill and pinkish feet. A white eye ring is also fairly prominent and helps distinguish this bird from the other Hawaiian Thrushes. Both males and females are highly similar in appearance. Juveniles show a pattern transitioning from a spotted whitish-buff above to a scalloped gray-brown below.Distribution and habitat
Historically, this species has always been considered rare, favoring forested ravines above 1050 metres (3,444.9 ft). Puaiohi are restricted to the center and southern parts of the Alakai Wilderness Preserve. 75% of the breeding population occurs in only 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi) of forest.Diet and behavior
Outside the breeding season, most (82%) of the diet is fruitFruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
and berries
Berry
The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors....
, the remainder being insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and other invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s. Important food sources include fruits of the native olapa (Cheirodendron trigynum
Cheirodendron trigynum
Cheirodendron trigynum, also known as Ōlapa or Common Cheirodendron, is a species of flowering plant in the ginseng family, Araliaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is a medium-sized tree, reaching a height of and a trunk diameter of...
), lapalapa (C. platyphyllum
Cheirodendron platyphyllum
Cheirodendron platyphyllum, also known as Lapalapa, is a species of flowering plant in the ginseng family, Araliaceae, that is endemic to the islands of Oahu and Kauai in Hawaii. It is a small tree, reaching a height of and a trunk diameter of . Lapalapa inhabits wet forests and bogs at...
), ōhia ha (Syzygium sandwicensis
Syzygium sandwicensis
Syzygium sandwicensis is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. Common names include Ōhia ha, Hā, and Pāihi. It is normally a large tree, reaching a height of and a trunk diameter of , but is a shrub on exposed ridges...
) and kanawao (Broussaisia arguta
Broussaisia
Kanawao is a species of perennial flowering plant in the Hydrangea family, Hydrangeaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It belongs to a monotypic genus....
). In the breeding season, over fifty percent of the diet shifts to invertebrates. The song is varied, consisting of a simple till to a complex wheezing, and high pitched squeal described as a squeaking rather resembling a metal wheel needing lubrication. Males can be found singing throughout the year, but do so with increasing frequency as breeding season approaches, peaking from April to May. Nesting has been recorded as early as March, to as late as mid-September. Nests are built in cavities or ledges of cliff
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
faces, concealed by moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es and fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s, but tree cavities are also used. Females are the sole nest builders, which can take up to 7 days. She also incubates the eggs, and broods and feeds the young birds while still in the nest. Eggs (usually 2 in are laid in the wild) are colored grayish-green to a muted greenish-blue with irregular reddish-brown splotches. Eggs hatch after 13–15 days. After fledging, the males become primary food providers to the young, while the female attempts a second brood. Females will also attempt to renest if the first attempt fails.
Status and protection
According to recent data, population estimates range from 200-300 birds, and have remained somewhat stable since 1973, although a study published in 1986 in estimated a population of approximately 100-125 birds. Puaiohi populations are vulnerable to drought, hurricanes, and mammalian predation of both eggs and young. Avian malariaAvian malaria
Avian malaria is a parasitic disease of birds.-Etiology:Avian malaria is most notably caused by Plasmodium relictum, a protist that infects birds in tropical regions...
also has been shown to affect many birds, but a few birds have shown some resistance. (C. Atkinson, USGS, unpublished data). Feral domesticated livestock (pigs and goats) also negatively affect populations of birds by degrading habitat, as has competition from many invasive plants and animals. The Puaihoi was added to the United States Federal Endangered Species list on March 11, 1967.
In 1995, a captive breeding program was established. Some birds from this program are now being taken back to the Alakai to supplement the wild population.