Birds of the forest

Author:

Ralph, C. John

Title:

Birds of the forest

Periodical:

Natural History

Year:

1982

Volume:

91

Pages:

40-45

Subject:

Honeycreepers Ohia-lehua Habitat conservation Adaptive radiation (Evolution)

Summary:

Hawaii's native forest birds, such as the Hawaiian honeycreepers, provide extraordinary examples of evolutionary adaptation. While approximately thirty-seven species or subspecies of this tribe of finches existed at the time of Captain Cook's arrival to the islands in 1778, many more are known to have existed prior to that. This group of honeycreepers includes many standard finches and species that look like warblers, vireos, tanagers, blackbirds, parrots, honeyeaters, thrushes, and even woodpeckers. As a result, this article focuses on the diversity of Hawaii's native forest birds, their reduction by deforestation, diseases, predators, and competition from exotic birds. Here, stories of evolutionary adaptation and threats to native birds are included.

Label:

Birds - General

Date:

1982

Collection:

Periodicals