Bird Guide

Akohekohe

Palmeria dolei

Critically EndangeredEndemicNectarForestCup nestSmall · 26 g

About the Akohekohe

The ʻākohekohe, or crested honeycreeper, is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper. It is endemic to the island of Maui in Hawaiʻi. The ʻākohekohe is susceptible to mosquito‐transmitted avian malaria and only breeds in high‐elevation wet forests.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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The ʻākohekohe (pronounced "ah ko-hay ko-hay") is the largest honeycreeper on Maui, at 6.5 to 7 inches (17 to 18 cm) in length. The adults are a glossy black with whitish feathers and stripes going down its side. The underparts are whitish black while the top has orange feathers sticking from wings. The feathers behind the eyes are a reddish color, and have a stream of cream colored feathers coming from the eyes. One of the things that most people recognize about this bird is its whitish gold colored feather crest on its head. Voice: It has a variety of songs. The most well known of the calls is a pair of whee-o, whee-o, being repeated over and over again. Also another well known song is a descending thrill which is done about five seconds apart. It songs include a low chuckling sound, tjook, tjook, chouroup or a rarer song, hur-hur-hur-gluk-gluk-gluk.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Akohekohe

Peak activity in March · a variable species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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