Identifying sex and age of akiapolaau
The Wilson Bulletin
By: T.K. Pratt, S.G. Fancy, C.K. Harada, G.D. Lindsey, and J.D. Jacobi
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Abstract
Methods for identifying the sex and age of the Akiapolaau (Hemignathus munroi), an endangered honeycreeper found only on the island of Hawaii, were developed by examination and measurement of 73 museum specimens and 24 live birds captured in mist nests. Akiapolaau probably undergo a single annual molt, with most birds molting between February and July. The mottled juvenal plumage is replaced by a first basic plumage characterized by yellowish-gray or yellowish-green underparts and often by retained wingbars. Male Akiapolaau may not attain adult plumage until their third molt. In adult females, only the throat and upper breast become yellow, whereas in adult males the superciliaries, cheeks, and entire underparts are yellow. Adult males have greater exposed culmen, gonys, wing chord, tail, and tarsus lengths than do females. Akiapolaau in first prebasic molt or older can be identified as to sex by culmen length, that of males being >23.4 mm.
Suggested Citation
Pratt, T., Fancy, S., Harada, C., Lindsey, G., and Jacobi, J., 1994, Identifying sex and age of akiapolaau: The Wilson Bulletin, v. 106, no. 3, p. 421-430.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Identifying sex and age of akiapolaau |
| Series title | The Wilson Bulletin |
| Volume | 106 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 1994 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 421-430 |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Wilson Bulletin |
| First page | 421 |
| Last page | 430 |