Genus Vestiaria

'I'iwi - The adult ʻiʻiwi is mostly fiery red, with black wings and tail and a long, curved, salmon-colored bill used primarily for drinking nectar. The contrast of the red and black plumage with surrounding green foliage makes the ʻiʻiwi one of the most easily seen Hawaiian birds. Younger birds have a more spotted golden plumage and ivory bills and were mistaken for a different species by early naturalists on Hawaiʻi. The ʻiʻiwi, even though it was used in the feather trade, was less affected than the Hawai'i mamo because the ʻiʻiwi was not as sacred to the Hawaiians. The ʻiʻiwi's feathers were highly prized by Hawaiian aliʻi for use in decorating ʻahuʻula and mahiole , and such uses gave the species its scientific name: vestiaria, which comes from the Latin for clothing, and coccinea means scarlet-colored. The bird is also often mentioned in Hawaiian folklore. The Hawaiian song "Sweet Lei Mamo" includes the line "The i'iwi bird, too, is a friend". The bird is capable of hovering in the air, much like hummingbirds. I

Order : Passeriformes
Family : Fringillidae
Genus : Vestiaria