.png)
Hawaiʻi ʻākepa
Scientific Name: Loxops coccineus coccineus
Found: Endemic to the island of Hawai‘i
Population Estimate as of 2024: 16,000(decreasing)
IUCN Status: Endangered
About: Much like the 'akeke'e on Kaua'i, the Hawai'i ‘ākepa is an insectivorous honeycreeper with an offset beak. It uses the curve of its bill to pry open leaf clusters and buds of ‘ōhi‘a and koa in search of small arthropods. Males gain their orange-red adult plumage about three years after hatching while females remain a more demure gray-green.
At one point there used to be ‘ākepa on Maui and O'ahu as well, but those subspecies have most likely gone extinct. Like other honeycreepers, the ‘ākepa is threatened by avian malaria, habitat loss, and invasive predators.
PC: Bret N. Mossman
The song is a wavering trill that changes in pitch and speed. 'Akepas are also known to produce soft calls called "whisper songs" that are characterized by short repeated notes and mimicry of other species.
These birds are obligate cavity nesters with the male bringing food to both the female and chick. Once fledged the young bird will stay with its parents for several months.