palila

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A rare yellow Hawaiian finch that lives only on Mauna Kea and is endangered

noun
/pəˈliːlə/

Specialized

: palila

Birdwatchers are excited to see the palila, a rare species native to Hawaii, perched on the branches.

Examples

All of the native endangered forest birds face the same problems as those listed for the palila, making all of the birds conservation reliant.

Academic text (2012)
The palila, which is limited to a single island and is mostly in a single declining population, exemplifies the myriad and interacting problems facing endangered forest birds in Hawaii.

Academic text (2012)
The refusal to remove feral ungulates from the critical habitat of the species, despite its priority in a 1977 recovery plan and several court orders, has resulted in the continuing decline of the palila (Banko 2009).

Academic text (2012)
The palila is a brightly colored yellow finch found only on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Conservation efforts are crucial for the survival of the endangered palila, which has a limited habitat.

Surface Forms

palila singular

palilas plural

Etymology

Palila comes from the Hawaiian name palila, which local people used for a 'small yellow bird' found on the slopes of Mauna Kea. So in English palila names this rare Hawaiian finch.