Justification This species is classified as Endangered because it has a very small range in which habitat is now being degraded through fire and grazing by feral goats, with the imminent threat of a new pressure posed by feral deer. It remains at risk from habitat degradation, disease and, in some areas, predation.

Family/Sub-family Fringillidae

Species name author (Wilson, 1890)

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 11 cm. Small, straight-billed, warbler-like passerine. Male bright golden-yellow on face and underparts, olive-green on crown and upperparts. May show tiny fleck of black in lores. Bill dark above, pinkish-yellow below. Female similar in pattern but all colours muted, juvenile duller still. Similar spp. Hawai`i `Amakihi Hemignathus virens not as yellow (male) and has curved bill, more black in lores. Introduced Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus smaller, greenish above and adults have prominent white eye-ring. Japanese Bush-warbler Cettia diphone grey-brown overall with pale underparts and never have yellow on face. Voice Song a lively whurdy-wheesee-whurdy-chick or a longer warble resembling song of introduced House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus. Call a sharp cheeck or chirk. Hints Forms nucleus of mixed-species flocks on Maui. Most accessible locality for observation is Hosmer Grove in Haleakala National Park.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000-19,999

decreasing

260 km²

Yes

Range & population Paroreomyza montana is endemic to Maui in the Hawaiian Islands (USA), but formerly occurred on Lana`i (until 1937). On Maui, it is now found only in two locations in the east, including Waikamoi Preserve to Kipahulu Valley (abundant), and Polipoli State Park and nearby areas south-west of Haleakala peak¹ (no longer common, but exact status unsure¹¹). Population densities decline below 1,600 m elevation: in 1980, surveys recorded none below 900 m⁷ and, in 1997, there was an almost total absence below 1,480 m, with only 40 km² of occupied good quality habitat above 1,525 m¹. In 1980, the early 1990s and 1997, the total population was estimated at c.35,000 birds^1,3,7 (but <8,550 breeding pairs), suggesting overall stability, although the range has contracted in this time¹. In 2002, it was reported that koa forest in South Haleakala was being degraded by feral goats, prompting suspicions of a population decline¹⁰, and in 2007, a fire in PoliPoli State Park destroyed an area of the species's habitat and probably a proportion of the population¹¹. Surveys after the fire found some surviving birds, but the lack of baseline surveys before the fire has prevented an analysis of the impact on the population¹¹.

Ecology: It inhabits dense, wet forests dominated by `ohi`a trees, but occurs in a variety of other forest, scrub and savanna habitats dominated either by native or introduced plants. It feeds on invertebrates and nectar^6,7. It lives in small family groups of 2-6 birds¹.

Threats Clearance of lowland forest has inevitably resulted in range contraction, but its absence from suitable habitat at lower elevations is attributed to the presence of disease-carrying mosquitoes. Feral ungulates, especially pigs, have also caused extensive habitat loss and degradation^5,7,9 and mosquitoes have followed the spread of feral pigs into upland areas⁵. Habitat response models indicate that this species is associated with forest interiors that are less damaged by feral pigs⁷. A number of introduced mammals, birds and insects are potential predators and competitors. Koa forest in South Haleakala is now being degraded by feral goats, with deer being a further imminent threat¹⁰. A fire at PoliPoli State Park in 2007 is thought to have impacted the local population¹¹.

Conservation measures underway The core areas where this species reaches its highest population densities are within three protected areas: Waikamoi Preserve, Hanawi Natural Area Reserve and Haleakala National Park, where fencing and control of feral ungulates is already resulting in the slow regeneration of native `ohi`a forests^4,5,8,9. Habitat restoration in PoliPoli State Park is proposed to include 65% native tree species and is expected to benefit the species¹¹.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct further research into the effect of diseases¹. Study its population dynamics and demography¹. Protect habitat from feral ungulates and rodents¹. Extend plant control to areas outside the three wildlife protection areas⁵. Encourage the regeneration of native high-elevation forests¹. When possible, translocate the species to establish several widely distributed populations¹, including on the leeward side of east Maui or mountains in west Maui¹¹. Routinely monitor the East Maui watershed conservation programme².

References 1. Baker and Baker (2000). 2. P. Baker in litt. (1999). 3. Jacobi and Atkinson (1995). 4. Lepson and Freed (1997). 5. Loope and Medeiros (1995). 6. Pratt et al. (1987). 7. Scott et al. (1986). 8. Simon et al. (1997). 9. USFWS and Hawai`i DLNR (1999). 10. S. Fretz, R. Camp, E. Vanderwerf, M. Gorresen and B. Woodworth in litt. (2003). 11. H. Mounce in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

Audubon WatchList

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Tom Stuart (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Paul E Baker (US Fish & Wildlife Service), Rick Camp (US Geological Survey), Scott Fretz (Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife), Marcos Gorresen (US Geological Survey), Hanna Mounce (Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project), Eric VanderWerf (US Fish & Wildlife Service), Bethany Woodworth (US Geological Survey)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Paroreomyza montana. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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