AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Identifying Sex and Age of Akiapolaau

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1994
Authors:Pratt, TK, Fancy, SG, Harada, CK, Lindsey, GD, Jacobi, JD
Journal:The Wilson Bulletin
Volume:106
Issue:3
Date Published:1994
ISBN Number:00435643
Keywords:Fringillidae, Hemignathus, Hemignathus munroi, Hemignathus wilsoni, Heterorhynchus, Heterorhynchus wilsoni
Abstract:Methods for identifying the sex and age of the Akiapolaau (Hemignathus munroi), an endangered honeycreeper found only on the island of Hawaii, were developed by examination and measurement of 73 museum specimens and 24 live birds captured in mist nests. Akiapolaau probably undergo a single annual molt, with most birds molting between February and July. The mottled juvenal plumage is replaced by a first basic plumage characterized by yellowish-gray or yellowish-green underparts and often by retained wing-bars. Male Akiapolaau may not attain adult plumage until their third molt. In adult females, only the throat and upper breast become yellow, whereas in adult males the superciliaries, cheeks, and entire underparts are yellow. Adult males have greater exposed culmen, gonys, wing chord, tail, and tarsus lengths than do females. Akiapolaau in first prebasic molt or older can be identified as to sex by culmen length, that of males being >23.4 mm.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/4163442
Short Title:The Wilson Bulletin
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith