The palila is one of the larger Hawaiian honeycreepers with an overall length of 15.0 to 16.5 centimeters (6.0 to 6.5 inches) and an adult weight of 38 to 40 grams (1.3 to 1.4 ounces). Adult palila have a yellow head and breast, greenish wings and tail, and are gray dorsally and white ventrally (Jeffrey et al. 1993, page 493). Adult females have less yellow on the nape and the lores are gray rather than black as in males. The head and upper breast of both sexes of juvenile birds are dull yellow-green, and juveniles have double wingbars formed by pale green tips on the greater and middle coverts until the first prebasic molt (Jeffrey et al. 1993).