Apapane
Photo: MFBRP · CC BY-SA 4.0

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Apapane

Himatione sanguinea

LCLeast Concern Endemic to United States
Family
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies (Fringillidae)
Order
Passeriformes

Overview

The ʻapapane ( AH-pah-PAH-nay;) (Himatione sanguinea) is a small, crimson species of Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. They are the most abundant and widely distributed honeycreeper and are found on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Maui, Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi and Oʻahu.
ʻApapane commonly forage in the canopies of ʻōhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha) trees, drinking nectar from the flowers and serving as important pollinators. Hawaiians primarily used red feathers from ʻiʻiwi, but also some from ʻapapane, to adorn the ʻahuʻula (capes), mahiole (helmets), and nā lei hulu (feather leis) of aliʻi (Hawaiian nobility).

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands).

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.