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'I'iwi
This one is feeding from 'akala flowers. 'Akala is a native Hawaiian raspberry whose bright red and juicy fruits are used traditionally to make dyes for kapa cloth. The picture on the bird on the right is a keiki, or juvenile 'I'iwi. They have speckled green and dark feathers on the body before molting into bright scarlet plumage as adults. |
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These
bright scarlet birds are a common sight in the upper elevation forests
of East Maui Watershed. They are easily recognized by a long curved
orange bill that has co-evolved with tubular flowers
like the native mints and lobelias. Populations of 'I'iwi are locally abundant.