The 'oma'o is the big island species of Hawaiian thrush. It's the loudest bird in the forest, and can sound like it's singing through a megaphone! There were several distinct species of thrush on the other major islands, including two varieties on Kaua'i. All of the other Hawaiian thrushes are extinct, except for the rare puaiohi of Kaua'i. The 'oma'o is common on windward Hawai'i, but was extirpated from Kona and Kohala very early in the decline of the native birds. (probably due to bird pox, but also habitat fragmentation) The 'oma'o is bold and not very shy of people, and will ignore people who stand quietly near them in the forest.
