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Revision as of 01:55, 1 June 2013
- Loxops coccineus
Identification
Adult males are a bright orange.
Females and juvenile males are grey and green, with an orange breast.
Distribution
Hawaii. 'Akepa are most densely concentrated in the Pua 'Akala tract of Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge on the windward slope of Mauna Kea, and along the upper edge of the Ka'u forest reserve on the South slope of Mauna Loa. Reforestation efforts in the Keauhou Ranch and Kulani Correctional Facility properties on the upper windward slope of Mauna Loa will improve another important population center. They can occasionally be observed just North of this area in large kipukas on the Mauna Loa-Mauna Kea saddle, along Powerline Road.
Small pockets of 'akepa persisted until recent decades in central Kona on the leeward slope of Mauna Loa, and on the North slope of Hualalai.
'akepa were extirpated from Maui in the 1980's or 1990's.
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
- L. c. coccineus:
- Montane ohia and koa forests of Hawaii
- L. c. wolstenholmei:
- Formerly montane ohia and koa forests on Oahu. Extinct ca 1900
- L. c. ochraceus :
- Montane ohia and koa forests of Maui. Probably extinct
Habitat
'akepa prefer to live near large old trees that have natural nesting cavities, and are usually found in mixed koa-'ohi'a forests at 4000-7000 feet elevation. The 'akepa forages for insects in the crowns of 'ohi'a trees, using the crossed tips of its bill to open budding leaves.
Behaviour
'akepa forage in small groups, or seasonally join mixed species foraging flocks. They are usually found near the upper surface of the canopy.
Vocalisation
'Akepa have a high weak voice. The male's song is a short weak descending trill, of variable tempo which often slows midway through. Juvenile begging calls are a descending "zeer", higher pitched than the similar begging call of the Hawai'i 'amakihi.
Breeding
The 'akepa nests in natural cavities in tree trunks or branches.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Akepa. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Akepa
