Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Akohekohe

Palmeria dolei

The ʻākohekohe, or crested honeycreeper (Palmeria dolei), is a distinctive and the largest honeycreeper found on the island of Maui. Adults exhibit a glossy black plumage adorned with white feathers and stripes along their sides. The underparts are a muted whitish black, while the upperparts boast striking orange feathers on the wings. A notable feature is the reddish feathers behind the eyes, complemented by a stream of cream-colored feathers extending from the eyes. The species is crowned with a whitish-gold feather crest, a characteristic that is particularly eye-catching. Juveniles, in contrast, are a more subdued brownish black and lack the vibrant orange feathers of their elders. Both young and adults have blackish legs and bills.

Identification Tips

When identifying the ʻākohekohe, look for the large size relative to other honeycreepers, the unique whitish-gold crest, and the combination of glossy black, white, and orange plumage. The cream-colored feathers trailing from the eyes are also a distinctive marker for this species.

Habitat

The ʻākohekohe is found in high-elevation wet forests, preferring habitats dominated by koa (Acacia koa) and ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) trees. These forests provide the necessary conditions for their survival, particularly above 1,715 meters where the threat of mosquito-transmitted diseases is reduced.

Distribution

Endemic to Maui, the ʻākohekohe's current range is restricted to the windward slopes of Haleakalā, between elevations of 4,200 to 7,100 feet. Historically present on Molokaʻi as well, the species has not been observed there since 1907. The population is estimated at around 3,800 individuals, divided into two groups separated by the Koʻolau Gap.

Behaviour

The ʻākohekohe is known for its assertive nature, particularly when feeding. It will not hesitate to drive away other nectarivores, such as the ʻapapane and ʻiʻiwi, to maintain access to its food sources.

Song & Calls

This bird has a repertoire of songs and calls, including a repeated "whee-o, whee-o" and a descending trill spaced about five seconds apart. Additionally, it produces a low chuckling "tjook, tjook, chouroup" and a less common "hur-hur-hur-gluk-gluk-gluk."

Diet and Feeding

Primarily a nectarivore, the ʻākohekohe feeds on the nectar of ʻōhiʻa lehua blossoms high in the canopy. It can also consume insects, fruits, and nectar from other plants when its preferred food source is scarce. The bird is known to forage in the understory when necessary, where it may feed on plants such as ʻākala (Rubus hawaiensis).

Conservation Status

The ʻākohekohe is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. It is protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act, and conservation efforts include habitat protection and management plans such as the Maui-Molokai Forest Bird Recovery Plan. These plans aim to monitor the species, control invasive species, and eradicate introduced ungulates that damage their habitat.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Akohekohes on Birda

Photos

More Finches, Euphonias

A photo of a Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis cabaret) , male

Lesser Redpoll

Acanthis cabaret
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Nicole
Gets me outdoors more
I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Anonymous
The best bird logging app
Birda is honestly the best bird logging app I have seen. I love all the features it has from being able to do a session and log all the birds you see in one sitting, to being able to connect with other birders from all over the globe!
BCHphotography_
Such a great app!
I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
778
Great bird recording
For a while I’ve been trying to find an app to easily record bird lists and day out and struggled to find one that I like. Birda is great for this, straightforward and a great community!
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.