Olomao
CR

Olomao

Myadestes lanaiensis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oloma%CA%BBo

Overview

The olomaʻo is a small, dark solitaire endemic to Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi in the Hawaiian Islands. It is currently listed as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The Olomao faces severe threats from habitat destruction caused by feral ungulates, particularly pigs and goats, which degrade native forest understory through trampling and browsing. Invasive plant species have extensively altered the composition of native forests, reducing suitable nesting sites and food sources. Disease transmission from introduced bird species and mosquito-borne avian malaria pose additional mortality risks to remaining populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Olomao inhabits native mesic and wet forests on the Hawaiian island of Lanai, preferring areas with dense canopy cover and native understory vegetation. It typically occurs in elevations between 400-1,200 meters in remnant ohia-lehua forests with native shrub layers.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Olomao classified as Critically Endangered?
Olomao is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Olomao faces severe threats from habitat destruction caused by feral ungulates, particularly pigs and goats, which degrade native forest understory through trampling and browsing. Invasive plant species have extensively altered the composition of native forests, reducing suitable nesting sites and food sources. Disease transmission from introduced bird species and mosquito-borne avian malaria pose additional mortality risks to remaining populations.
Where does Olomao live?
Olomao occurs in United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Olomao?
The main threats to Olomao are 5.3, 8.1, 8.2, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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