Akekee

Overview

The akekeʻe (Loxops caeruleirostris), also known as the Kauaʻi ʻākepa, is a critically endangered bird endemic to the island of Kauaʻi. It is a member of the honeycreeper genus Loxops and is currently facing imminent extinction, with a predicted decline to zero by 2028 if current trends continue.

Identification

• Greenish-yellow plumage with a black mask around the eye, which is especially prominent in males.
• Possesses a bluish bill, distinguishing it from the similar ʻākepa, which typically has a red, canary-yellow, orange, or horn-colored bill.
• The bill-tips are crossed over, though they are not bent as they are in the distantly related crossbills.

Habitat

Found in small numbers in the higher elevations of Kauaʻi, specifically within Waimea Canyon State Park, Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve, and Kōkeʻe State Park. It inhabits mesic and wet forests, relying heavily on ʻōhiʻa lehua trees, and is restricted to areas above 1,100 meters ASL to avoid mosquitoes.

Diet

Uses its crossed-over bill like scissors to cut open buds in search of insects. It also feeds on the nectar of some trees.

Did you know?

The akekeʻe has the largest rate of decline among all highly threatened Hawaiian birds, with its population shrinking by 21% every year. Despite this critical status, the species is notoriously difficult to keep alive in captivity, with only seven captive individuals known.