Akiapolaau Identification

A medium-sized Hawaiian honeycreeper with a distinctive bill: lower part is short and chisel-like, while the upper part is thin and strongly curved. Adult male is bright yellow below and on the head, with bright green upperparts and a black lore between the eye and base of the bill.

Immature is duller than adult, with a shorter bill. The lower mandible is often pale, and the gape may be orange.

A yellow-and-green Hawaiian honeycreeper that uses its distinctive bill to find and then extract insects and spiders from branches and bark.

Adult male has green upperparts, bright yellow underparts, and a yellow head with a black lore between the eye and base of the bill. Male is larger than female with a slightly longer bill.

Female is less bright than male, with an olive-green head, pale yellow breast, and dusky lore. Akiapolaau uses its distinctive bill to explore branches for insects and then excavate and extract them.

A forest species, typically occurring in areas with both koa and ohia lehua trees. Found only on the island of Hawaii, typically above 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) elevation.