Samoa guide. 39. The honey-birds

There used to be a third kind of honeyeater on Tutuila, the very large, blackish ma'oma'o or mao (Gymnomyza samoensis). This is a real mystery bird. Larger than a fuia (Samoan Starling), with loud wailing calls, the ma'oma'o is remembered by some of the elders of Tutuila, and was collected by scientists here in the 1920s. However, except for a couple of possible sightings in the 1960s and 1970s, it has never been seen since. The ma'oma'o is now found only in the remote mountains of 'Upolu and Savai'i, where it is rare and little known. We will probably never know if this bird was once an important part of our forests, or if it occurred here only as a rare visitor from western Samoa. According to legends, hearing the wails and screams of the ma'oma'o around a village meant that misfortune or a death was about to happen. Sadly, this prophecy seems to have come true for the ma'oma'o itself, which is now in danger of the greatest misfortune -- extinction.

The iao feeds at almost all the flowers of the forest, from small atone (nutmeg) flowers to the large crimson blooms of gatae (coral tree). Christmastime is the best time of year for iao, because the asi trees are in full bloom. These white brushy flowers cover the tree crowns and are rich with nectar. At that time, the iao get so full of this nectar that they're like kids full of candy and cake at a party -- they rush every which way through the forest, chasing each other and yelling out songs at the top of their lungs. At other times when flowers aren't quite so abundant, they eat a lot of insects as well, and also include some soft fruits and berries in their diet.

The segasegamau'u or Cardinal Honeyeater (Myzomela cardinalis) is the prettiest bird of Samoa's gardens. Unlike most Samoan birds, the male and female Cardinal Honeyeater look very different: the male is bright red, with black wings and tail, while the female is a dull gray, with a little bit of red on the rump. These tiny birds (the smallest in American Samoa) always seem to be active, flitting among the aute (ornamental hibiscus), teuila (ginger), and nonu (Indian mulberry) in our gardens, or sampling nectar at flowers high in the forest treetops. Like the iao, the segasegamau'u is very vocal, though not as loud as its larger cousin. Its sweet warbling songs are familiar sounds in our villages and plantations.

The segasegamau'u is even more of a honey-bird than the iao. Though it will occasionally eat small insects, it seems very dependent on flower nectar at all times of year. You can see the difference in the beaks of the two birds: the Cardinal Honeyeater has a very delicate, sharp beak that is perfect for slipping into flowers but not so good for grabbing big bugs. The beak of the Wattled Honeyeater is sturdier, more all-purpose: good both for flowers and insects.

Perhaps because of its love of flowers, the segasegamau'u seems happy to live close to people, in gardens and plantations. Although much less common than the iao in the forest, it is the honeyeater that you're likely to see around villages. Around villages on Tutuila, that is; surprisingly, the segasegamau'u doesn't occur on any of the islands of Manu'a. Outside of American Samoa, the species is found in western Samoa, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands, and very close relatives occur in Micronesia and Fiji.

The nest of the Cardinal Honeyeater is a beautiful, delicate cup of fine grass fibers, often decorated with moss. It may be placed high in a tree or almost on the ground in thick foliage. Four to five tiny eggs are laid. The segasegmau'u seems to nest in all months of the year.

The iao or Wattled Honeyeater (Foulehaio carunculata) is the commonest forest bird in Samoa. It is also found in Tonga and Fiji. Although not a particularly beautiful bird, with its greenishbrown feathers and yellow flaps of bare skin on the face, its boundless energy and continuous song enliven our islands. Its bold and fearless nature keeps it busy chasing other birds, and its loud alarm calls warn other animals of the lulu (Barn Owl) or other danger. Samoan legend tells that when the iao calls at night, it means that ghosts (aitu) are near.

The most familiar birds of Tutuila's villages and gardens are the iao (Wattled Honeyeater) and the segasegamau'u (Cardinal Honeyeater). Although they look different, these birds are members of the same aiga, the family of birds called the honeyeaters. Honeyeaters are found throughout the Pacific islands, New Guinea, and Australia. As their name implies, most of them include the sweet nectar of flowers in their diet (though none of them eat real honey).

Even though the iao is our commonest bird, we really don't know very much about its habits. Their nests are beautifully woven cups of grass, typically well-hidden in the dense foliage of a tree. Usually only one or two eggs are laid. Most nesting appears to take place between September and December.