Birdsong field guide
Maui Akepa
Loxops ochraceus
A small, extinct Hawaiian honeycreeper characterized by its specialized crossed bill and the distinctive ochre-colored plumage of the males.
What it sounds like
A simple, high-pitched trill or whistle, accompanied by short, thin 'cheep' contact calls.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto
Field notes
- The species possessed an asymmetrical lower mandible that curved to one side, enabling it to pry open leaf buds to extract larvae.
- Adult males were notable for their dull orange or brownish-yellow feathers, while females were primarily greenish-gray with yellow-tinged underparts.
- It was a specialized canopy forager that relied heavily on 'ōhi'a lehua trees for both food and nesting sites.
- The Maui Akepa was a secondary cavity nester, typically choosing natural hollows in old-growth trees rather than excavating its own.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially declared the species extinct in 2023, with the last confirmed sighting occurring in 1988.
Habitat
High-elevation mesic and wet forests, particularly those dominated by 'ōhi'a and koa trees.
Range
Endemic to the island of Maui, Hawaii, specifically the windward slopes of Haleakalā.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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