FWS Focus

Overview

The Iiwi is an Hawaiian forest bird in the endemic honeycreeper subfamily of the Fringillidae (finch family). Iiwi are medium-sized forest birds (total body length is approximately 14 centimeters (cm) (5.5 inches (in)) with bright scarlet feathers, black wings and tail, and a small white patch on the inner secondary flight feathers. The bill is long, deeply decurved, and salmon in color. Juveniles are differentiated by their buff color with black spots, and shorter bills which change in color from dusky yellow to salmon as they mature (Fancy and Ralph 1998, p. 2). Iiwi are widely recognized as one of the most spectacular and iconic of the extant Hawaiian forest birds. Iiwi songs are complex and include variable creaks often described as a “rusty hinge” sound, whistles, or gurgling sounds, and sometimes mimic other birds (Fancy and Ralph 1998, p. 5; Hawaii Audubon Society 2011, p. 97). Iiwi are strong fliers that move long distances to locate nectar sources, and are well known for their seasonal movements in response to the availability of flowering ohia and mamane for feeding (Fancy and Ralph 1998, p. 3; Kuntz 2008, p. 1; Guillamet et al. 2016, p. 192). Such movements generally occur after the breeding season.

Scientific Name

Vestiaria coccinea
Common Name
`I`iwi
Iiwi
FWS Category
Birds
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Geography

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Timeline

Explore the information available for this taxon's timeline. You can select an event on the timeline to view more information, or cycle through the content available in the carousel below.

6 Items

Listing

Listing

Listing

Listing

Five Year Review

Critical Habitat

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Listing

Jan 24, 2012

Jan 24, 2012 Listing (Substantial)
90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the `I'iwi as Endangered or Threatened
  • Publication type: 90 day petition finding
Item 1

Listing

Sep 20, 2016

Sep 20, 2016 Listing (Warranted)
Threatened Species Status for the Iiwi (Drepanis coccinea); 12-Month petition finding; proposed rule…
  • Publication type: 12m petition finding
Item 2

Listing

Sep 20, 2016

Sep 20, 2016 Listing (Threatened)
Threatened Species Status for the Iiwi (Drepanis coccinea); 12-Month petition finding; proposed rule…
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 3

Listing

Sep 20, 2017

Sep 20, 2017 Listing (Threatened)
Threatened Species Status for the Iiwi (Drepanis coccinea); Final rule.
  • Publication type: Final
Item 4

Five Year Review

Jun 25, 2021

Jun 25, 2021 Five Year Review (Information Solicitation)
Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 77 Species in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Hawaii; request…
  • Publication type: Notice
Item 5

Critical Habitat

Dec 28, 2022

Dec 28, 2022 Critical Habitat
Designation of Critical Habitat for `I`iwi; Proposed Rule
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 6