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The iiwi (''Drepanis coccinea'', pronounced , ''ee-EE-vee''), or scarlet Hawaiian honeycreeper is a "hummingbird-niched" species of Hawaiian honeycreeper. It is one of the most plentiful species of this family, many of which are endangered or extinct. The iiwi is a highly recognizable symbol of Hawaii. The iiwi is the third most common native land bird in the Hawaiian Islands. Large colonies of iiwi inhabit the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai, with smaller colonies on Molokai and Oahu but are no longer present on Lānai. Altogether, the remaining populations total 350,000 individuals, but are decreasing. == Description and uses == The adult iiwi is mostly scarlet, with black wings and tail and a long, curved, salmon-colored bill used primarily for drinking nectar. The contrast of the red and black plumage with surrounding green foliage makes the iiwi one of Hawaii's most easily seen birds. Younger birds have golden plumage with more spots and ivory bills and were mistaken for a different species by early naturalists. Observations of young birds moulting into adult plumage resolved this confusion. Although it was used in the feather trade, it was less affected than the Hawaii mamo because it was not as sacred to Hawaiians. The iiwi's feathers were highly prized by Hawaiian ''alii'' (nobility) for use in decorating ''ahuula'' (feather cloaks) and ''mahiole'' (feathered helmets), and such uses gave the species its original scientific name: ''Vestiaria'', which comes from the Latin for "clothing", and ''coccinea'' meaning "scarlet-colored". (In 2015 the IOC World Bird List moved the iiwi from genus ''Vestiaria'' to ''Drepanis'', from the Greek for sickle, a reference to the shape of the beak.) The bird is often mentioned in Hawaiian folklore. The Hawaiian song "Sweet Lei Mamo" includes the line "The i'iwi bird, too, is a friend". The bird can hover, much like a hummingbird. Its peculiar song consists of a couple of whistles, the sound of balls dropping in water, the rubbing of balloons together, and the squeaking of a rusty hinge. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「ʻIʻiwi」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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