The Akiapolaau is an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to Hawaii Island. It is a remarkable bird with a highly specialized bill: a long, decurved upper mandible and a short, straight lower mandible.
Where to spot
Endangered and restricted to specific high-elevation native dry and mesic forests on the slopes of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualālai on Hawaii Island.
How to spot
Focus on mature koa and 'ōhi'a forests. Look for its distinctive bill and unique foraging behavior, tapping and probing tree bark. Listen for its loud, whistled song and distinctive 'chip' calls.
When to spot
A year-round resident. Best observed in its specific forest habitats during morning hours. Requires patience and often remote hiking due to its rarity and habitat.
Where to spot
Endangered and restricted to specific high-elevation native dry and mesic forests on the slopes of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualālai on Hawaii Island.
How to spot
Focus on mature koa and 'ōhi'a forests. Look for its distinctive bill and unique foraging behavior, tapping and probing tree bark. Listen for its loud, whistled song and distinctive 'chip' calls.
When to spot
A year-round resident. Best observed in its specific forest habitats during morning hours. Requires patience and often remote hiking due to its rarity and habitat.
This bird's bill is a 'Swiss Army knife' of foraging tools, using the lower mandible like a chisel to chip bark and rotten wood, and the long upper mandible like a probe to extract insects from deep crevices.
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