Hawaiian Honeycreeper - Genera and Species

Genera and Species

The term "prehistoric" indicates species that went extinct between the initial human settlement of Hawaiʻi (i.e., from the late 1st millennium AD on) and European contact in 1778.

SUBFAMILY DREPANIDINAE

• Tribe Drepanidini
  • Genus Ciridops - finch-like, fed on fruit of Pritchardia species
    • Ciridops anna - ʻUla ʻai hāwane (extinct, 1892 or 1937)
    • Ciridops tenax Stout-legged Finch (prehistoric)
  • Genus Drepanis - downcurved bills, nectarivores
    • Drepanis funerea - Black Mamo (extinct, 1907)
    • Drepanis pacifica - Hawaiʻi Mamo (extinct, 1898)
  • Genus Himatione - thin-billed nectarivore
    • Himatione sanguinea - ʻApapane
      • Himatione sanguinea freethi - Laysan ʻApapane (extinct, 1923)
  • Genus Melamprosops - short pointed bill, browser and snail specialist
    • Melamprosops phaeosoma - Poʻouli (possibly extinct, November 28, 2004?)
  • Genus Palmeria - thin-billed nectarivore, favors Metrosideros polymorpha
    • Palmeria dolei - ʻĀkohekohe (thought to be extinct, rediscovered in 1945)
  • Genus Vestiaria - downcurved-bill nectarivore
    • Vestiaria coccinea - ʻIʻiwi
• Tribe Hemignathini
  • Genus Aidemedia - straight thin bills, insectivores
    • Aidemedia chascax - Oʻahu Icterid-like Gaper (prehistoric)
    • Aidemedia lutetiae - Maui Nui Icterid-like Gaper (prehistoric)
    • Aidemedia zanclops - Sickle-billed Gaper (prehistoric)
  • Genus Hemignathus - pointed or long and downcurved bills, insectivorous or nectarivorous
    • Hemignathus flavus - Oʻahu ʻAmakihi
    • Hemignathus kauaiensis - Kauaʻi ʻAmakihi
    • Hemignathus lucidus - Nukupuʻu (possibly extinct, late 1990s?)
      • Hemignathus lucidus affinis - Maui Nukupuʻu (extinct, 1995–1998)
      • Hemignathus lucidus hanapepe - Kauaʻi Nukupuʻu (extinct, 1998)
      • Hemignathus lucidus lucides - Oʻahu Nukupuʻu (extinct, 1837)
    • Hemignathus sagittirostris - Greater ʻAmakihi (extinct, 1901)
    • Hemignathus virens - Common ʻAmakihi
    • Hemignathus vorpalis - Giant ʻAmakihi (prehistoric)
  • (Sub)Genus Akialoa
    • Hemignathus ellisianus or Akialoa ellisiana - Oʻahu ʻAkialoa (extinct, 1940)
    • Hemignathus lanaiensis or Akialoa lanaiensis - Maui Nui ʻAkialoa (extinct, 1892)
    • Hemignathus obscurus or Akialoa obscura - Hawaiʻi ʻAkialoa (extinct, 1940)
    • Hemignathus stejnegeri or Akialoa stejnegeri - Kauaʻi ʻAkialoa (extinct, 1969)
    • Hemignathus upupirostris or Akialoa upupirostris - Hoopoe-billed ʻAkialoa (prehistoric)
  • (Sub)Genus Heterorhynchus
    • Hemignathus munroi or Heterorhynchus wilsoni - ʻAkiapolaʻau
  • (Sub)Genus Magumma
    • Hemignathus parvus or Magumma parva - ʻAnianiau
  • Genus Loxops - small pointed bills with the tips offset a little horizontally, insectivores
    • Loxops caeruleirostris - ʻAkekeʻe
    • Loxops coccineus - ʻĀkepa
      • Loxops coccineus coccineus - Hawaiʻi ʻĀkepa
      • Loxops coccineus ochraceus - Maui ʻĀkepa (extinct, 1988)
      • Loxops coccineus wolstenholmei - Oʻahu ʻĀkepa (extinct, 1990s)
  • Genus Oreomystis - short pointed bills, browsers
    • Oreomystis bairdi - ʻAkikiki
    • Oreomystis mana - Hawaiʻi Creeper
  • Genus Paroreomyza - similar to Oreomystis
    • Paroreomyza montana - Maui Nui ʻAlauahio
      • Paroreomyza montana montana - Lānaʻi ʻAlauahio (extinct, 1937)
    • Paroreomyza flammea - Molokaʻi Creeper or Kākāwahie (extinct, 1963)
    • Paroreomyza maculata - Oʻahu ʻAlauahio (possibly extinct, early 1990s?)
  • Genus Vangulifer - flat rounded bills, possibly caught flying insects
    • Vangulifer mirandus - Strange-billed Finch (prehistoric)
    • Vangulifer neophasis - Thin-billed Finch (prehistoric)
• Tribe Psittirostrini
  • Genus Chloridops - thick-billed, Myoporum sandwicense and other hard seed specialist
    • Chloridops kona - Kona Grosbeak (extinct, 1894)
    • Chloridops regiskongi - Giant ("King Kong") Grosbeak (prehistoric)
    • Chloridops wahi - Wahi Grosbeak (prehistoric)
  • Genus Dysmorodrepanis - pincer-like bill, possibly snail specialist
    • Dysmorodrepanis munroi - Lānaʻi Hookbill (extinct, 1918)
  • Genus Loxioides - finch-like, Fabales seed specialists
    • Loxioides bailleui - Palila
    • Loxioides kikuichi - Kauaʻi Palila (prehistoric, possibly survived to the early 18th century)
  • Genus Orthiospiza - large weak bill, possibly soft seed or fruit specialist?
    • Orthiospiza howarthi - Highland Finch (prehistoric)
  • Genus Pseudonestor - parrot-like bill, probes decomposing wood for insect larvae
    • Pseudonestor xanthophrys - Maui Parrotbill (thought to be extinct, rediscovered in 1945)
  • Genus Psittirostra - slightly hooked bill, Freycinetia arborea fruit specialist
    • Psittirostra psittacea - ʻŌʻū (probably extinct, 1998?)
  • Genus Rhodacanthis - large-billed legume specialists
    • Rhodacanthis flaviceps - Lesser Koa-finch (extinct, 1891)
    • Rhodacanthis forfex - Scissor-billed Koa-finch (prehistoric)
    • Rhodacanthis litotes - Primitive Koa-finch (prehistoric)
    • Rhodacanthis palmeri - Greater Koa-finch (extinct, 1896)
  • Genus Telespiza - finch-like, granivores, opportunistic scavengers
    • Telespiza cantans - Laysan Finch
    • Telespiza persecutrix - Kauaʻi Finch (prehistoric)
    • Telespiza ultima - Nihoa Finch
    • Telespiza ypsilon - Maui Nui Finch (prehistoric)
  • Genus Xestospiza - cone-shaped bills, possibly insectivores
    • Xestospiza conica - Cone-billed Finch (prehistoric)
    • Xestospiza fastigialis - Ridge-billed Finch (prehistoric)