Akohekohe
Palmeria dolei
A large, rare Hawaiian Honeycreeper of high elevation wet forests on eastern Maui. Its bushy, forward-pointing crest is distinctive. May appear mostly black at a distance or in misty weather. Juveniles are less brightly colored than adults. Usually found foraging in the forest canopy giving loud and boisterous songs and calls. The song is a varied series of gurgles, whistles, and buzzes. Aggressively chases other birds away from flowering trees.
Identification
The ʻākohekohe is the largest honeycreeper on Maui, at 6.5 to 7 inches (17 to 18 cm) in length. The adults are a glossy black with whitish feathers and stripes going down its side. The underparts are whitish black while the top has orange feathers sticking from wings. The feathers behind the eyes are a reddish color, and have a stream of cream colored feathers coming from the eyes. One of the things that most people recognize about this bird is its whitish gold colored feather crest on its head. The younger birds are brownish black and they do not have the orange feathers of the parents. The legs and bills are a blackish color.<p>It has a variety of songs. The most well known of the calls is a pair of whee-o, whee-o, being repeated over and over again. Also another well known song is a descending thrill which is done about five seconds apart. It songs include a low chuckling sound, tjook, tjook, chouroup or a rarer song, hur-hur-hur-gluk-gluk-gluk.<p>The ʻākohekohe is a nectarivore that feeds on the flowers of ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) high up in the canopy. It is an aggressive bird and will drive away competing nectarivores, such as the related ʻapapane and ʻiʻiwi. When ʻōhiʻa lehua blossoms are limited, it will eat insects, fruit, and nectar from other plants. The ʻākohekohe will forage in the understory if necessary, where food plants include ʻākala (Rubus hawaiensis).<p>Its natural habitat is wet forests dominated by koa (Acacia koa) and ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) on the windward side of Haleakalā at elevations of 4,200 to 7,100 feet (1,300 to 2,200 m). During a search for the species in the east Maui forests, there were a record of 415 observations over an area of 11,000 acres (45 km2) and at elevations from 4,200 to 7,100 feet (1,300 to 2,200 m) above sea level. It has been estimated that there are a total of 3,800 ʻākohekohe left on Maui in two populations separated by the Koʻolau Gap. They are sometimes but rarely seen at Hosmer Grove in Haleakalā National Park.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Palmeria dolei
- Authority
- (Wilson, SB, 1891)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Genus
- Palmeria
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
According to the Federal Endangered Species Act, this bird is protected by law along with its habitat. The bird was included in the act in March 1967. It was also a part of many other documents including the Maui-Molokai Forest Bird Recovery Plan in 1967, by the Fish and Wildlife Service. It will serve as a guideline to protect the indigenous life of Maui and Molokaʻi. The final recovery plan in 1984 continues the last, keeping eyes on the species and eradicating any ungulates that are introduced into the area that can harm and or disturb the ʻākohekohe and other native forest birds in Maui's forests.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Hudsonian Godwit
Limosa haemastica
The smallest godwit, overall rather dark. Long upturned bill, red at the base with a black tip. Breeding male shows rich rufous belly and messy black, gray, and white pattern on back. Female duller. Nonbreeding birds are overall plain gray, but juveniles have more cinnamon tones. Note white eyebrow in all plumages. Most distinctive field mark is black underwing, only seen in flight. Breeds on grassy tundra in Canada and Alaska, winters in southern South America. In migration, found in flooded fields, beaches, mudflats, and shallow marshy pools, sometimes in mixed flocks with Willet or yellowlegs.
Maxwell's Black Weaver
Ploceus albinucha
An entirely black forest weaver with piercing white eyes found in low-elevation and foothill forests, in small groups or with mixed-species flocks, sometimes with other species of weaver. Occasionally forms much larger groups, and will sometimes nest in large single-species or mixed-species colonies. Birds in the western part of the range have a silver nape, but birds in the east are wholly black. Western populations are nearly identical to co-occurring populations of Vieillot’s Weaver, but have a thinner, pointier bill and prefer more forested habitats. Vocalizations include dry chatters and soft mechanical rasps, sometimes given in complex combinations.
Tahiti Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus caffer
A large, slender warbler with a disproportionately long bill, short wings, and a long tail. Face and eyebrow yellowish-buff with a dark eye-stripe and a pale throat. Upper body and wings mostly dark with pale edges to feathers, giving a messy mottled appearance. Some birds are much paler, often almost entirely white with some mottling. An entirely dark sooty morph occurs. Found in riverine and hillside forest with stands of bamboo up to 600 meters of elevation. Song is a long, slow sequence of warbled phrases and “churr” notes. Calls include harsh churring and “tchak” notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.