The extinct Hawaiian bird known for black plumage and yellow feathers was the Kauaʻi ʻōʻō. Its scientific name was Moho braccatus, and it lived only on the island of Kauaʻi.
The bird was mostly black, with distinctive golden-yellow feathers on its legs and yellow irises. It fed on nectar, fruit, and small invertebrates, using its sharp, slightly curved bill in the forests of Kauaʻi. Its haunting, flute-like calls were an important part of the island’s soundscape.
The Kauaʻi ʻōʻō declined as forests were damaged and introduced predators—including rats, pigs, and mongooses—disrupted nesting. Mosquito-borne diseases also harmed native Hawaiian birds. The last confirmed sighting was in 1985, while the final known sound recording was made in 1987.
It is sometimes confused with the mamo or other ʻōʻō species, all of which had similar dark-and-yellow plumage. The Kauaʻi ʻōʻō was the last surviving member of the ʻōʻō lineage, and its disappearance coincided with the extinction of the entire bird family Mohoidae.