Ou
Psittirostra psittacea
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Fringillidae
Genus
Psittirostra
Ou belongs to the family Fringillidae, order Passeriformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Ou faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural conversion of native Hawaiian forests. Introduced diseases, particularly avian malaria and pox transmitted by non-native mosquitoes, have devastated populations, while competition from invasive bird species and habitat degradation from feral ungulates further threaten this endemic Hawaiian honeycreeper.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Native montane wet forests and mesic forests of Hawaii, primarily in ohia-lehua and koa forests at elevations between 1,000-2,100 meters. The species requires dense canopy cover with native flowering trees and shrubs that provide nectar and arthropod prey.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Ou faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural conversion of native Hawaiian forests. Introduced diseases, particularly avian malaria and pox transmitted by non-native mosquitoes, have devastated populations, while competition from invasive bird species and habitat degradation from feral ungulates further threaten this endemic Hawaiian honeycreeper.
Avian diseases (malaria and pox)
Climate change effects on montane forests
Competition from invasive species
Habitat degradation by feral ungulates
Habitat loss from deforestation
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Ou (Psittirostra psittacea). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/ou