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ʻApapane
Scientific Name: Himatione sanguinea
Found: On all major Hawaiian islands but rare on Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i.
Population Estimate as of 2024: 87,000 (Stable)
IUCN Status: Least Concern
About: The brilliant red 'apapane is the most abundant and widely distributed Hawaiian honeycreeper and an important ‘ōhi‘a pollinator. They forage in large same species flocks and can be seen traveling long distances to seek out blooming trees.
Their glossy scarlet feathers were important in traditional Hawaiian feather working. In flight or at a distance they can be distinguished from 'i'iwi by their white undertail coverts.
PC: Bret N. Mossman
They have a large vocal array with ten different songs and noises that range from clicks, to trills, to squeaks.
On its own, an 'apapane would be chased off flowers by the more aggressive 'i'iwi and ʻākohekohe. But, traveling in large flocks, 'apapane are able to overwhelm the competition and gain access to nectar.