The Mao is a large honeyeater with a long, curved black bill. It forages for nectar, fruit, and insects in the canopy and upper parts of Samoan forests.
Its large body is dark olive to blackish, and the bill is long and curved. Males may have blue-grey or brown eyes, while females are described with brown eyes.
It forages in the canopy and subcanopy of forests, eating nectar, fruit, and insects. It also helps pollinate plants and disperse seeds.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.