Akohekohe

Overview

The ʻākohekohe, or crested honeycreeper, is the largest honeycreeper on Maui and is classified as Critically Endangered. This endemic Hawaiian bird survives in two populations separated by the Koʻolau Gap, with an estimated total of 3,800 individuals remaining.

Identification

• Adults feature a glossy black plumage with whitish stripes down the sides and orange feathers on the top of the wings.
• A distinctive whitish gold crest sits on the head, accompanied by reddish feathers behind the eyes and cream-coloured streamers emerging from the eyes.
• Legs and bills are blackish, and the species measures 6.5 to 7 inches (17 to 18 cm) in length.
• Vocalisations include repeated 'whee-o, whee-o' calls, descending thrills, and low chuckling sounds such as 'tjook, tjook'.

Habitat

Residing in high-elevation wet forests dominated by koa and ʻōhiʻa lehua on the windward side of Haleakalā, the bird thrives at elevations between 1,300 and 2,200 metres. It is strictly confined to the island of Maui and was formerly present on Molokaʻi until 1907.

Diet

As a nectarivore, it primarily feeds on the flowers of ʻōhiʻa lehua high in the canopy, exhibiting aggressive behaviour to drive away competitors such as the ʻapapane and ʻiʻiwi. When blossoms are scarce, it supplements its diet with insects, fruit, and nectar from other plants like ʻākala in the understory.

Did you know?

The bird's unusual appearance made it highly desirable to collectors in the mid-1800s, contributing to its population decline alongside habitat loss and introduced diseases.