The Palila (Loxioides bailleui) is a large, yellow-headed finch found exclusively in the dry subalpine mamane and mixed mamane-naio woodlands on the western slope of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. It is a non-migratory, Critically Endangered species that specializes in feeding on mamane seed pods, spending most of its foraging time in these specific trees.
Learn to identify
Adult Palila on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, feeding in flowering mamane.
Learning lesson · openly licensed photographs, labelled by BirdBot; labels checked against the cited sources and approved by AI
Gray back: wings and tail are edged olive-green. Heavy dark bill: thick, with swollen sides; black in adults. Yellow head and breast: brightest in males, which have black lores. Pale belly: white to light gray below the yellow. Yellow hood, gray body, heavy finch bill.
Females are duller with gray lores; young have duller heads.
Sources: Wikipedia: Palila (revision 1354831947) · Animal Diversity Web: Loxioides bailleui (Palila)
Photo: Abby Darrah, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; labels added by BirdBot.
At approximately 19 centimeters long and weighing around 35 grams, the Palila is a large finch. Its plumage is striking: a bright yellow head and breast contrast with a gray back and a white belly. The flight and tail feathers are gray, edged in green. Because the species is sexually dichromatic, field identification often relies on subtle differences between the sexes.
There are no seasonal variations in plumage, and the birds molt once per year. The bill is curved and blunt, an adaptation for its specialized diet.
The Palila has an extremely restricted range, estimated at only 30 square kilometers on the western slope of Mauna Kea. It inhabits dry subalpine forests, specifically preferring mature mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) or mixed mamane-naio (Myoporum sandwicense) woodlands. These shrub-like trees typically reach 15 to 20 meters in height. The birds favor areas with high canopy cover and native understory ground cover, which often includes endemic species like pukiawe (Leptecophylla tameiameiae), a shrub about a meter tall, along with native grasses and sedges.
The Palila is a highly specialized feeder. Its diet consists primarily of mamane seed pods. To access the food, the bird secures a pod, returns to a perch, holds the pod down with one or both feet, and uses its beak to tear open the tough protective layer to eat the green cotyledons and germ of young seeds.
Palila are non-migratory and generally non-territorial outside of the breeding season. They are typically seen in small groups of around five birds, which are thought to be family units. Flocks are denser before and after the breeding season.
Courtship is visually distinct. Males advertise with low, short glides and slow wing flutters. Females solicit feedings from males with wing quivering and vocalizations. Males feed females during courtship and through incubation. Some pairs are aided by a secondary male helper, which may provide food to the female and chicks during the incubation and nestling stages; this behavior may be linked to the species' skewed sex ratio.
Palila are monogamous breeders with high nesting site fidelity, often returning to nest within a 1-kilometer range of their previous site. The breeding season can last 6 to 8 months, beginning in March or April, with peak nesting from April to July. Breeding is dependent on food availability and may be delayed in years of low mamane production.
Palila songs include whistles, warbles, trills, and chirps. They sometimes mimic the songs of other species in their range. The common song features an upward warble on the first two notes and a downward inflection on the third, which mimics the phonetics of its name. Males sing more frequently during the breeding season to defend nest sites and attract mates, despite the species being generally non-territorial.
The Palila is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) in AviList v2026. The Animal Diversity Web account notes that the population has historically remained around 2,000 individuals, though it experiences yearly fluctuations dependent on weather and food availability. Key threats include:
Conservation efforts have included the eradication of feral ungulates through public hunting and aerial shooting, as well as fencing critical habitat to prevent further browsing. These efforts have led to positive recovery of mamane trees. Reintroduction attempts to the eastern side of Mauna Kea have had minimal nesting success, largely because of the birds' strong nesting site fidelity to the western slope.
Because the Palila is restricted to a small area on Mauna Kea, ethical observation is crucial to minimize stress on this vulnerable population. Access to the western slope habitat is often managed to protect the species; check with the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources or local guides for current trail access protocols and any required permits before visiting.
For the most current population trends and conservation updates, consult the BirdLife DataZone Palila factsheet and the AviList v2026 checklist.
