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Also known as a Scarlet Honeycreeper.
From the series of thirty-three prints, Living Endemic Birds of Hawaii, by Marian Berger.
From the US Audubon Society website: "'I'iwis have one of the most widespread distributions of all native Hawaiian songbirds, occurring on the islands of Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i, O'ahu, and Kaua'i. Because of 'I'iwis' propensity for seasonal movements in search of flowering trees, it is difficult to assess fully population trends for this species. However, it appears that 'I'iwis are experiencing a population decline, except at higher elevation sites."
The 'I'iwi is a honeycreeper that uses its long, curved bill to eat nectar from flowers, although it also eats some insects. It is found in koa and ohi'a forests above 3,500 feet on Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai but is rare on Oahu and Molokai. 'I'iwi are quite territorial and will aggressively defend their established feeding territory against other nectar-eating birds, including other 'I'iwi. Because of their bright coloring, these birds are highly recognizable and are often mentioned in Hawaiian folklore.
Copyright Marian Berger. All rights reserved; images are protected under US copyright laws and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner.