 It formerly inhabited māmane ("Sophora chrysophylla") -naio ("Myoporum sandwicense") dry forests at elevations of on Mauna Kea, but this population was extirpated in 2002.It feeds on insects which are found hidden within the branches of the trees, along with the nectar of flowers shaped like its bill.It also looks for invertebrates at the floor of the forest where there is a large amount of natural growth.