Also known as: Iiwi, Scarlet Hawaiian Honeycreeper
The I'iwi or Iiwi is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is also the most common native bird. This Hawaiian finch is mostly red, with black wings and tail and a long curved bill that it uses to drink nectar.
The wild population of Iiwi was estimated to be about 350,000 birds in the early 1990s. Although there are large colonies of 'I'iwis on the islands of Hawai'i and Kaua'i, it is no longer found on the other islands due to habitat loss.
The Iiwi has a conservation status of Vulnerable to extinction as of June 2013. It faces threats including predation by non-native species, and habitat loss or degradation.
From IUCN Red List: The 'I'iwi is listed as Vulnerable
on the IUCN Red List and was last assessed in 2012 by BirdLife International. This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has a small and contracting range and, although it is still relatively abundant, surveys have shown that it is undergoing a continuing population decline.
Earlier this month, the Iiwi ('I'iwi), a beautiful Hawaiian finch, was introduced as the American Birding Association's Bird of the Year for 2018. We think it's an interesting and excellent choice!
In 2016 ... more
