The ‘Akiapōlā‘au, a species of honeycreeper endemic to (found only in) Hawai‘i. The ʻAkiapōlāʻau was fairly abundant and widely distributed on the island of Hawai‘i until the 1970s.
Since then, both its range and abundance have severely declined, and it is now only found in high-elevation forests. The species was listed as endangered in 1967 under the Endangered Species Act. (American Bird Conservancy)
The ‘Akiap̄olā‘au occurs as two disjunct populations in the windward and Kau regions on the Island of Hawai‘i and total population is approximately 1,900 birds (2009). Trend analysis indicates density is increasing in Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge in north windward Hawaii (2016). (FWS)
Their distribution occurs in forests dominated by koa and ‘ōhi‘a between 4,875 and 6,500 feet elevation on the Island of Hawai‘i. Their original range likely included all forested areas of the island.
Adult males have a bright yellow head and underparts, yellow-green back and wings, and a small, black mask. Adult females are olive above with grayish-yellow to yellow underparts. Males are larger than females and have longer bills. (DLNR)
Female ʻAkiapolaʻau show a strong preference for ‘ōhi‘a trees as nest sites. They build their nests using strips of ‘ōhi‘a bark, incorporating a unique “picket fence” rim. The strips of bark protruding around the perimeter may help camouflage the nesting female from hawks and other predators.
The ʻAkiapōlāʻau only lays one egg (rarely two) during its nesting season and then cares for its fledgling for at least 4 to 5 months. This low reproductive rate makes the species particularly vulnerable to threats and slow to recover. (DLNR)
Even though the ‘Akiapōlā‘au breeds any time of the year, this species is known as a slow reproducer, as breeding typically occurs only every other year. The peak of the breeding season is most commonly from early February to late July.
The ‘Akiapōlā‘au is monogamous. Once a pair is formed, the partners remain together for several seasons. During the breeding season, the male defends a small territory. (FWS)
‘Akiapōlā‘au are mainly insectivorous, with larva and spiders being the most important prey items; rarely takes nectar but takes sap from holes it excavates in ‘ōhi‘a trees. (DLNR)
The ‘Akiap̄olā‘au has evolved to fill the niche occupied by woodpeckers in many other parts of the world. (FWS) They have one of the most unusual bills in the Hawaiian honeycreeper family, with a long, downward-curving upper mandible, used for probing, and a shorter lower mandible that functions as a chisel.
This specialized bill allows the species to exploit the same niche occupied by woodpeckers in other parts of the world. ʻAkiapōlāʻau even make woodpecker-like tapping sounds as they forage along tree limbs in search of insects. (American Bird Conservancy)
Here are links videos of ‘Akiapōlā‘au by Jack Jeffrey:
https://www.facebook.com/jack.jeffrey.351/videos/761717921690744
https://www.facebook.com/jack.jeffrey.351/videos/1351613492271592
I am happy to be a member of the Board of the Friends of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (https://friendsofhakalauforest.org/).
The ‘Akiapōlā‘au is featured on the Friends’ logo. (Please consider joining the Friends of Hakalau Forest https://friendsofhakalauforest.org/membership/.
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