Adults have a dark brown crown and back, white under parts with the upper breast streaked very lightly with brown, and white wingbars, rump, and tail-tips. Their long tail is often held up at an angle.

Elepaio are found in a variety of forest types and are one of the most successful Hawaiian forest birds in adapting to disturbed habitats. Despite their adaptability, populations of Oahu elepaio have severely declined in the last few decades with the total remaining population estimated at 1500 birds in seven isolated forest fragments. Oahu elepaio were recently listed as an endangered species.

Sightings of the Oahu ‘‘elepaio - once abundant in forested areas throughout Oahu - have plummeted in recent years. The surviving birds occupy about four percent of the species’’ historic range.

The O`ahu `elepaio is threatened primarily by disease, including avian pox virus and malaria, and predation by nonindigenous mammals. Other known threats include storms with heavy rainfall and high winds that destroy nests; habitat degradation and loss, including habitat fragmentation due primarily to human impacts; and destruction of foraging habitat by feral pigs.

In Hawaiian legend, ‘‘elepaio helped canoe makers judge the quality of koa logs that were made into canoes. If the bird landed on the log and pecked at it, the wood was considered to be of poor quality. If it landed on the log and simply sang, the log was considered sound. Since the ‘‘elepaio is an insect eater, its ability to identify insect-infested wood made it a valuable resource to early Hawaiians.