Akikiki

The ʻakikiki, known scientifically as Oreomystis bairdi and colloquially as the Kauaʻi creeper, is a diminutive bird endemic to the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi. This species, the sole representative of its genus, is characterized by its grey upperparts and pristine white underparts. It is a small bird, measuring approximately 13 centimeters in length and weighing between 12 to 17 grams. The ʻakikiki is not sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females appear similar. Juveniles can be distinguished by their prominent white eye rings, while adults may retain a pale eyebrow for several years. They possess pink legs and bills, and their tails are notably short, giving them a rather stocky appearance.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the ʻakikiki, look for a small bird with a grey back and white belly. The juveniles' large white eye rings are a key feature, and the pale eyebrow in adults can be a helpful identifier. Their pink legs and bill, along with a short tail, are distinctive traits that set them apart from other birds in their habitat.

Habitat

The ʻakikiki is currently confined to the highest elevation native rainforests of Kokeʻe State Park and the Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve on Kauaʻi. Historical evidence suggests that it once inhabited a broader range of environments, including sea-level dry forests.

Distribution

This critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper is endemic to Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi. Once more widespread, its range has been drastically reduced, and it is now found only in select high-elevation rainforests on the island.

Behaviour

The ʻakikiki is often observed foraging in pairs, family groups, or mixed-species flocks. It exhibits a nuthatch-like behavior, hopping along trunks and branches of both live and dead trees in search of arthropods.

Song & Calls

The adult ʻakikiki's contact call is a succinct "weet" or "whit," occasionally doubled. Its breeding season song is a descending trill. Juveniles emit a stuttering series of "chits," and during the breeding season, females use a similar call to solicit feeding from males.

Breeding

The breeding season for the ʻakikiki spans from March to June. Both sexes participate in constructing nests made of moss and lichen, situated several meters high in the crowns of ʻohiʻa trees. While only the female incubates the eggs, both parents are involved in feeding the nestlings and fledglings. Due to a lengthy juvenile dependency period, typically only one brood is raised per pair each season.

Similar Species

The ʻakikiki may be confused with the ʻanianiau, especially since they may flock together. However, the ʻakikiki's distinctive short tail and foraging behavior can help differentiate the two.

Diet and Feeding

The ʻakikiki's diet consists primarily of arthropods, which it picks off while navigating the trunks and branches of trees in a manner reminiscent of North American nuthatches.

Conservation status

The ʻakikiki has been listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2000. Its population has experienced a precipitous decline, with estimates in July 2023 suggesting a mere five individuals remain in the wild. This species is predicted to be extinct in the wild in 2023. Conservation efforts include captive breeding, reintroduction, and habitat restoration, with plans to control mosquito populations that carry avian malaria, a significant threat to the ʻakikiki's survival.