Moho (genus)

Common card · No. 381845

Moho is a genus of extinct birds in the Hawaiian bird family, Mohoidae, that were endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Members of the genus are known as ʻōʻō in the Hawaiian language. Their plumage was generally striking glossy black; some species had yellowish axillary tufts and other black outer feathers. Most of these species became extinct by habitat loss, the introduction of mammalian predators (like rats, pigs, and mongooses), and by extensive hunting; their plumage was used for the creation of numerous precious articles of clothing for the aliʻi (Hawaiian nobility), including ʻaʻahu aliʻi (robes), ʻahu ʻula (capes), kāhili (feathered staffs), and mahiole (feathered helmets). The Kauaʻi ʻōʻō was the last species of this genus to become extinct, likely a victim of avian malaria. Until recently, the birds in this genus were thought to belong to the family Meliphagidae (honeyeaters) because they looked and acted so similar to members of that family, including many morphological details...

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