Loxops caeruleirostris
Loxops caeruleirostris NatureServe Explorer Species Reports — NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports — Loxops caeruleirostris ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. The ʻakekeʻe is a bird species in the family Fringillidae, where it is placed in the Hawaiian honeycreeper genus Loxops. It is endemic to the island of Kauaʻi where it is found in small numbers in higher elevations. Because of their similar size, shape, and unusual bill, the ʻakekeʻe and the ʻakepa were for some time classified as a single species. This was eventually changed, because of differences in their color, nesting behavior, and calls.
FWS Digital Media Library — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video. The ʻakekeʻe is a greenish-yellow bird with a black mask around the eye and a bluish bill, unlike the ʻakepa, which is usually red, canary-yellow or orange, without black, and has a horn-colored bill. The bill-tips are crossed over, though not bent as in the distantly-related crossbills. The ʻakekeʻe uses its bill like scissors to cut open buds in search of insects to eat. It also feeds on the nectar of some trees. This bird builds nests primarily of twigs high up in trees
| Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endangered | 05/13/2010 | Pacific Region (Region 1) | Wherever found |
- Benkman, C. W. 1989. On the foraging behavior of the Kaua'i 'Akepa. 'Elepaio 49:29-30.
- Eddinger, C. R. 1972. Discovery of the nest of the Kauai Akepa. Wilson Bull. 84:95-97.
- Lepson, Jaan Kaimanu and H. Douglas Pratt. 1997. Akekee (Loxops caeruleirostris), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/295
- Perkins, R. C. L. 1895. Notes on some Hawaiian birds. Ibis series 7, Vol. 1:117-129.
- Pratt, H. D. 1994. Avifaunal change in the Hawaiian Islands, 1893-1993. Stud. Avian Biol. no. 15:103-118.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. 2015. 'Akeke'e Fact Sheet: http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/files/2013/09/Fact-sheet-akekee.pdf
- States/US Territories in which the Akekee, Wherever found is known to or is believed to occur: Hawaii
- US Counties in which the Akekee, Wherever found is known to or is believed to occur: View All
Current Listing Status SummaryStatus Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed Endangered 05/13/2010 Pacific Region (Region 1) Wherever found Species Occurrence
Population(s)
Wherever found
» Federal Register Documents
Federal Register Documents» Recovery
Current Recovery Plan(s)Other Recovery Documents» Critical Habitat
To learn more about critical habitat please see http://ecos.fws.gov/crithabCritical Habitat Spatial Extents
Population(s)
Wherever found
» Conservation Plans
No conservation plans have been created for Akekee.» Petitions
» Life History
Habitat Requirements
The 'Akeke'e inhabits Lowland Mesic and Wet Forests. The highest densities of these species are found in 'o hi'a forest in Alaka'i "Swamp." This is the wettest location in U.S., where average annual rainfall approaches 1,500 cm. The most common trees in these forests are 'o hi'a (Metrosideros polymorpha), koa (Acacia koa), 'o lapa (Cheirodendron trigynum), and lapalapa (C. platyphyllum).Food Habits
The 'Akeke'e feeds mostly on spiders, psyllids, and caterpillars. Their tongue is similar to their nectarivorous relatives, taking nectar on rare occasions. Sifts through 'o hi'a leaf clusters with quick, deliberate movements, and appears to insert bill-tips between leaf scales and then gape while laterally abducting lower mandible.Movement / Home Range
The 'Akeke'e is endemic to Kaua'i Island of the Hawaiian archipelago. The 'Akeke'e population is generally restricted to high-elevation forests that are in nearly pristine condition on the eastern edge of Koke'e State Park and the Alaka'i Wilderness Preserve.Reproductive Strategy
The 'Akeke'e nests in open-cup nests located in terminal crowns of 'o hi'a trees. Composition is poorly known, but may consist of mostly mosses and some lichen.Other
The 'Akeke'e population appears to have remained relatively stable for the past 35 years, unlike many other Kaua'i endemics, which have seriously declined. Despite destructive effects of two powerful hurricanes in the past 15 years, the 'Akeke'e remains relatively common in native forests above 1,100 m elevation. Estimation of trends is complicated by the difficulty of field identification of Kaua'i forest birds, particularly when relying on vocalizations alone. Development in the Ko ke'e region, as well as continued introduction of alien plants and animals, reduces the amount of suitable habitat available. Past human activity has and continues to adversely affect the 'Akeke'e through habitat destruction, both directly through forest-clearing and logging, and indirectly through introduced pigs, goats (Capra hircus), and deer (Odocoileus hemionus); introduced mosquitoes, particularly Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus, as disease vectors, introduced birds as potential competitors and reservoirs of disease; introduced rats as nest predators; and introduced cats (Felis catus) and Barn Owls as predators on adults. For more information about this species, including occurrence, conservation strategies and recovery actions in specific states or regions, refer to the following resources:- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. 2015. 'Akeke'e Fact Sheet: http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/files/2013/09/Fact-sheet-akekee.pdf
- Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project website. 2015.: http://kauaiforestbirds.org/birds/akekee/ (includes Akekee Recovery Plan Information)
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network. ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.
| 02/13/2015 | 80 FR 8100 8103 | Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews of 133 Species in Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington |
| 04/13/2010 | 75 FR 18960 19165 | Determination of Endangered Status for 48 Species on Kauai and Designation of Critical Habitat; Final Rule |
| 10/21/2008 | 73 FR 62592 62742 | Listing 48 Species on Kauai as Endangered and Designating Critical Habitat; Proposed Rule |
| 11/15/1994 | 59 FR 58982 59028 | ETWP; Animal Candidate Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species. |
| 06/17/2010 | Recovery Outline for the Kauai Ecosystem | Recovery efforts in progress, but no implementation information yet to display | Outline |
| 06/17/2010 | Recovery Outline for the Kauai Ecosystem | Recovery efforts in progress, but no implementation information yet to display | Outline |
| 02/13/2015 | 80 FR 8100 8103 | Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews of 133 Species in Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington |
|
| 04/13/2010 | 75 FR 18960 19165 | Determination of Endangered Status for 48 Species on Kauai and Designation of Critical Habitat; Final Rule | Final Rule | Final designated |
| 10/21/2008 | 73 FR 62592 62742 | Listing 48 Species on Kauai as Endangered and Designating Critical Habitat; Proposed Rule | Proposed Rule | Not Required |
