Honeycreeper (Apapane)

 

 

Endemic to Hawaii the ʻApapane are found at an elevation above 4,100 feet keeping the birds away from avian malaria carrying mosquitoes that can wipe out the species. The bright crimson feathers of the ʻApapane were once used to adorn the clothing of the Royal Hawaiian Kings and Queens

 

 

ʻApapane rely heavily on the nectar of the `Ohia-lehua blossoms, which flower at very different times throughout the islands. Breeding season extends at least from December until July, often with two clutches being produced by a pair in a given year. Nests are usually found in the tops of `Ohia-lehua trees. ʻApapane are primarily nectar feeders, but occasionally take insects and spiders, especially when feeding their young.

 

Photographed in the wild, Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Take a tour of Hawaii ~LINK~> the Rainforest & Dryforest