Friendly Fantail

A small flycatcher of forested habitats on Hawaii Island. Adults have white wingbars, rump, and tail tips. More common and widespread in native forest at higher elevations, but occurs at lower elevations in some areas where forest remains. Bold and curious; not afraid of people and may follow hikers. Often holds tail cocked up at an angle. Male song is a shrill “El-eh-pie-oh” for which the species is named. Both sexes give a variety of calls and scolding notes. May respond to pishing and squeaking.

This enormous heron stands 1.5 meters tall and has a robust, dagger-like bill. The immature has rustier upperwings than the adult. Its flight is ponderous and labored. Goliath Heron inhabits large rivers, marshes, estuaries, and mangroves, hunting for large fish and other animals, stabbing them with an open bill. It has a distinct, barking “kowoork” call that can be heard from up to 2 km away. Purple Heron has similar plumage, but Goliath Heron is twice the size, has a much larger bill, and has a rufous (not blackish) top of the head.

Long-tailed parakeet, mostly green with a scaled breast; has a narrow blue forehead and lacks a red patch on edge of shoulders. Feeds in small groups in the canopy of both humid non-flooded and seasonally flooded forests, as well as forest edges. Most often seen fleetingly, flying in noisy flocks through the sub-canopy. The similar Painted Parakeet has a larger blue patch on the forehead and red shoulder patch. The calls of Painted and Santarem parakeets are apparently indistinguishable.