Chasiempis sandwichensis ridgwayi

Chasiempis sandwichensis ridgwayi (Volcano 'Elepaio), female. Male has heavy black spotting on the throat. This is one of the subspecies of the Hawai'ian 'Elepaio. The other two subspecies occurring on Big Island are ssp. sandwichensis from Kona, which has whitish forehead and eyebrows, and the rare ssp. bryani from Mauna Kea, which has the entire head heavily washed with white. The 'Elepaio from O'ahu, C. (sandwichensis) ibidis, may be, the form from Kaua'i, C. (sandwichensis) sclateri most probably is a distinct species. ssp. ridgwayi is the most common 'Elepaio today, with a population of around 100.000-150.000, that is more than half of the total number of 'Elepaio. In 2002, a pair was kept at KBCC to evaluate techniques for captive breeding to assist in the conservation of the rarer populations.