Kauaʻi ʻelepaio

The Kauaʻi ʻelepaio (Chasiempis sclateri) is a monarch flycatcher found on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.

Whether this fluctuation is natural and thus the birds' numbers will rebound or whether it signifies a novel threat remains to be seen.

However, it seems the birds are making a recovery, as population density on the Alakai plateau has increased by 13% in recent years.

[2] This is the most distinct ʻelepaio; adult birds have their head and back gray, with a white supercilium, a rusty-red breast and a white underside.

Wings and tail are alike in all subspecies, but the young individuals of sclateri have the white stippling of the wings replaced by rusty coloration too.

Alakai Wilderness – Kauaʻi, Hawaii (flash photo)