Kauai Elepaio
Chasiempis sclateri
A small flycatcher of forested habitats on Kauai. Adults have a gray back and white wingbars, while immatures are reddish brown with buffy wingbars. Common in native forest at higher elevations. Bold and curious; not afraid of people and may follow hikers. Often holds tail cocked up at an angle. Male song consists of two notes that rise and fall and have a squeaky, rubber ducky quality. Both sexes give a variety of soft calls and scolding notes. Responds to pishing and squeaking.
Identification
This is the most distinct ʻelepaio; adult birds have their head and back gray, with a white supercilium, a rusty-red breast and a white underside. Young birds are uniformly rusty above and white below. Wings and tail are alike in all subspecies, but the young individuals of sclateri have the white stippling of the wings replaced by rusty coloration too.
Taxonomy
The Kauaʻi ʻelepaio was formerly considered as a subspecies of the Hawaii ʻelepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis sclateri) until reclassified as a separate species in 2010.
- Scientific name
- Chasiempis sclateri
- Authority
- Ridgway, 1882
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Monarchidae
- Genus
- Chasiempis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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A medium-sized parrot of montane forest on Luzon. The two central tail feathers have extended shafts ending in a racket shape. Overall green in color, darker on the back and paler below. Male has a blue face and a red crown. The similar Green Racquet-tail may overlap geographically, but Luzon is usually found at higher elevations and has a darker back. Voice includes various grating calls and shrill squeals.
Black-faced Grassquit
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Small sparrowlike bird found in the Caribbean and northern South America. Males are dull olive above with a variable amount of black on the face and breast. Females are plain grayish-olive overall; note the small size, short tail, and pinkish bill and legs. Very similar to female Sooty Grassquit. Found in pairs or small groups in shrubby or grassy areas and forest edge, typically on or near the ground.
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A pale, mid-sized petrel with white underparts, dark cap, white forehead, and black margins to the white underwing. In flight, also note the distinctive, dark “M” on the gray upperparts. Easy, buoyant flight in calm weather, often gaining height and gliding down towards the ocean surface. Wheels high and steeply in strong weather.
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