Hawaii Akepa

Loxops coccineus

A small, rare Hawaiian honeycreeper of native forests above 5,000 feet elevation on Hawaii Island. Brilliant orange color of males is unique. The longer tail with a notched tip distinguishes females from other small honeycreepers. Usually stays high in the forest canopy. Nests in cavities of large, hollow trees. The crossed bill that it uses to pry open leaf buds in search of insects and larvae is difficult to see. Song is a wavering trill that changes in pitch and speeds up and slows down. Call is a soft “tiddle-ee.”

Identification

It is a four-inch (10 cm) long bird of a dusty green color. Males are bright orange. It has a small cross bill just like the other Loxops species. Its call is a slight quivering whistle ending with a long trill.

Taxonomy

Genus: Loxops; Family: Fringillidae; Order: Passeriformes.

Scientific name
Loxops coccineus
Authority
(Gmelin, JF, 1789)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Fringillidae
Genus
Loxops

Range and habitat

The Hawaiʻi ʻakepa survives only in two or three locations, all on the island of Hawaii: one population in Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (on the Hamakua Coast of Mauna Kea), one in the upper forest areas of Kau (in the southern part of the island), and one on the northern slope of Hualālai (perhaps extirpated). As of 2000, about 14,000 Hawaiʻi ʻakepa remained. They were listed as an endangered species in 1975.

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend: declining.

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Little Weaver

Little Weaver

Ploceus luteolus

Minuscule yellow weaver. Breeding males have a clean black face mask and pure lemon underparts. Females and non-breeding males have a streaked back and pale face and underparts. Found in savanna and sometimes cultivated areas. Usually in pairs or small groups; not as social as some weavers. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chet” notes and a sizzling, “radio static” song. Most similar to Slender-billed Weaver, but found in different habitat, and has a much stubbier bill. Separated from all other weavers by its small size.

Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot

Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot

Micropsitta bruijnii

A tiny parrot of montane forests. The male is brightly-colored with a green back, red belly and a peachy cheek and throat surrounded with bright blue. The female is mainly green with a blue crown and whitish face. Other pygmy-parrot species do not usually occur in this altitudinal range. Like other pygmy-parrots, it creeps along trunks but nests in stumps rather than arboreal termitaria. The male is unmistakeable and female similar to Yellow-capped and Buff-faced, but has a paler face and lacks the bright yellow vent. A high-pitch tinkling call.

Newell's Shearwater

Newell's Shearwater

Puffinus newelli

A small shearwater, black above and white below with a long tail and long, thin bill. The white on the belly extends up on to the flanks, forming a distinctive white spot behind each wing. Nests primarily on Kauai, with smaller numbers on other islands. Regularly observed offshore from boats, especially around Kauai, but sometimes near other islands. The voice, usually heard only at breeding colonies, is similar to the braying of a small donkey.

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