Hawaii Elepaio

Chasiempis sandwichensis (Gmelin, JF, 1789)

Hawaii Elepaio, Chasiempis sandwichensis, is a monarch in the Hawaiian Islands, where it occurs on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was first described in 1789 by Gmelin. Three subspecies are recognised, each tied to different habitats on the island. One lives in mesic forest with koa and ʻōhiʻa lehua, another in rainforest with ʻōhiʻa lehua and hāpuʻu, and the third is restricted to dry forest on the leeward slopes of Mauna Kea. The subspecies also differ in head pattern, with one showing a whitish forehead and supercilium, and another having the head strongly washed with white.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Monarchidae — Monarchs

Breeding range

Pacific Ocean: Hawaii, Hawaiian Is.