ʻAlalā Basics

Who am I?

Description

  • The ‘Alalā is a native bird that has black feathers and a large bill.
  • ʻAlalā weigh as much as a football and is over 1.5 feet long from bill to tail.
  • ʻAlalā are very intelligent and by far the loudest bird in the forest. They can make incredible human-like cries, screams and moans.

 

 

Click here to listen to ʻAlalā calls

Where do I live?

HabitatScreen shot 2016-01-05 at 9.49.53 AM

In the past, ‘Alalā lived in dry and semi-dry forests in the South Kohala, Kona, Kaʻū and into Puna districts. They would range from 1,000 – 8,200 feet in elevation.

These koa and ʻōhiʻa forests on the slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa had a lot of fruiting plants in the understory.

A large number of understory shrubs provided food and cover to hide from predators.

 

 

What do I eat?

Diet

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The diet of the ‘Alalā includes:

  • Over 30 species of native fruits
  • Eggs and nestlings of other birds
  • Insects
  • Some nectar, flowers, and dead animals

Their favorite foods include native fruits like ‘Ōlapa, ‘Ie‘ie and Hō‘awa. In fact, ʻAlalā are an important seed disperser for large-fruited native plants.