Akepa 
Akepa
Akepa
© Peter LaTourrette
Scientific Name:
Loxops coccineus
Other Names and/or Listed subspecies:
Also called: 'Akakane, 'Akepeu'ie, Akepeuie. 2 subspecies endangered: Hawaii Akepa or Hawaii Honeycreeper (Loxops coccineus coccineus), Maui Akepa or Maui Honeycreeper (Loxops coccineus ochraceus)
Group:
Birds
Status/Date Listed as Endangered:
EN-US FWS: October 30, 1970
EN-IUCN: 2010
Area(s) Where Listed As Endangered:
Hawaii
 
Advertisement
 

The akepa is one of the smallest of the honeycreepers. It is a finch-like bird about ten centimeters in length. Adult males have a brilliant red-orange plumage with dusky wings and tail. Females have dull grayish-green plumage with a yellow-orange tinged belly. Their bills are conical and straw-yellow in color.

The akepa prefers wet and mesic forest primarily above 3000 feet as its habitat. They like to move in small flocks and nest in tree cavities. Akepas eat mostly insects and spiders. They use their conical shaped bills to pry open ohia buds, small seed pods, and galls in search of food. They have been known to drink nectar from ohia and other flowers found in their Hawaiian habitat. They have a quiet call and their songs are a short, warbling trill. Little is known about their reproductive behavior. Only three nests have been found, and all were in natural ohia or koa cavities from up to 15 meters off the ground. Females may lay from one to three eggs in March and the young are believed to fledge in June.

The akepa was once common on the islands of Maui and Kauai, but the largest population today is only estimated at 14,000. Cause of decline is habitat loss and the introduction of aggressive plants and animals in its habitat. In an effort to save the species, the US FWS has established a refuge, the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, for preserving the akepa and other threatened Hawaiian birds.

More Links about the Akepa:

Conservation Links:
US FWS Wildlife Refuge


Featured Article

10 Unusually White Creatures You'll Probably Never See in Real Life
Creatures with albinism and leucism are beautiful and rare animals. They have all the characteristics of others of their species except they are white in color. The lack of melanin generally results in the animal looking bleached all over, appearing white or pink. It happens in many animals ranging from squirrels to whitetail deer. Here are ten incredible and rare, white-colored creatures that you'll probably never see in real life.

Read More...


Advertisement


Endangered Species of Our Planet

Donate, Adopt, Get Involved

EEC Conservation Directory
Donate

Mailing List

Would you like to receive a notice and link when the new Creature Feature is posted?

Enter your e-mail address below:

 

Fun & Games

Are you inspired by endangered animals? Check out our games and coloring pages! More to come soon.
color endangered creatures
play hangman