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Sex and age identification of palila

1993; Association of Field Ornithologists; Volume: 64; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

1557-9263

John J. Jeffrey, Steven G. Fancy, Gerald D. Lindsey, Paul C. Banko, Thane K. Pratt, James D. Jacobi,

Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock

-Methods to sex and age Palila (Loxioides bailleui), an endangered Hawaiian finch restricted to subalpine woodlands on Hawai'i, were identified on the basis of measurements and plumage characteristics of 17 museum specimens and 96 known-age, live Palila. Palila undergo a single annual molt during September-December following the breeding season. Presence of a complete or partial wingbar distinguishes hatch-year and second-year Palila from after-second-year birds. Adult male Palila are distinguished from females by a distinct napeline and <30% gray feathers intermixed with yellow feathers on the head. The black or gray feathers of the lores and chin of males are darker than those on the back, whereas the lores and chin of females are lighter or of the same shade as back feathers. IDENTIFICACION DE LA EDAD Y EL SEXO EN LOXIOIDES BAILLEUI Sinopsis.-Se desarroll6 un mhtodo para identificar la edad y el sexo de individuos de Palila (Loxioides bailleui), el cual es una especie en peligro de extinci6n. Esto se hizo utilizando medidas y caracteristicas del plumaje de 17 especimenes de museo y 96 individuos de Palila. El ave muda una vez al anio entre septiembre-diciembre, luego que pasa la epoca de reproducci6n. La presencia parcial o total de una barra en el ala diferencia a los individuos de primer y segundo anio de otros de mayor edad. Los machos adultos de Palila se diferencian de las hembras por una linea peculiar en la nuca y por tener un 30% menor de plumas con color entremezclado de gris y amarillo en la cabeza. El color negro o gris de las plumas de los lores y la barbilla en los machos es mas oscuro, que la misma coloraci6n en la espalda, mientras que los lores y la barbilla de las hembras son mas claros o de la misma tonalidad que las plumas de la espalda. The Palila (Loxioides bailleui) is an endangered Hawaiian finch (Fringillidae: Subfamily Drepanidinae) restricted to native forests above 2000 m on Mauna Kea, Island of Hawai'i. It was formerly more widespread on Hawai'i (Perkins 1903) and in the archipelago (Olson and James 1982, Scott et al. 1986); estimated population size was 1371 Palila in 1992, and has not exceeded 6500 birds during the past 13 yr (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, unpubl. data). Immature seeds of the mamane tree (Sophora chrysophylla) are the staple food of Palila, which also use mamane extensively for nesting and shelter. Browsing by feral ungulates was thought to have been a major cause of Palila decline (Scott et al. 1984). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) conducted surveys of the Palila population in the mid-1970s (Scott et al. 1984), and, in 1987, began intensive studies of factors limiting Palila population growth. An impor' Current address: Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, 154 Waianuenue St., Room 219, Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 USA.