HAWAIIAN HONEYCREEPER
Hawaiian Honeycreeper Facts & Interesting Info
Scientific Name: Drepanidini (subfamily, with various species)
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered and population decreasing
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Size: 10-20 cm in length
Weight: 10-30g depending on species
Physical Traits: Their bright colours vary between red, yellow, green to black with variation depending on the specific habitats found in the islands.
IUCN Status: Endangered or Critically Endangered (varies by species)
More About Hawaiian Honeycreepers:
The Hawaiian honeycreepers are a special group of birds that will help people understand how amazing evolution can be. These small, brightly-coloured perching birds of the finch family are endemic to “The Hawaiian Islands”. From one species many others have evolved. It has naturally branched out into approximately 50 different types in millions of years.
Unfortunately, many of these species have died out due to factors such as habitat destruction, noxious animals and illness. The Scarlet Honeycreeper is widely recognised as one of the surviving honeycreepers today. With its bright red feathers and long, curved beak it is perfectly suited to sip nectar from Hawaiian flowers.
The Maui Parrotbill and the ‘Akiapola‘au are two other special honeycreepers. The Maui Parrotbill has a long, curved upper bill that wrenches insects from crevices of trunks and branches. The ‘Akiapola‘au has a short and wide beak that looks like a small chisel for hammering into wood in search of insects.
These birds are really important for the ecosystem. Many honeycreepers help plants pollinate, especially native Hawaiian plants. They have shared a long history with the Hawaiian forests, which include the ʻōhiʻa tree in maintaining the health of the forest.
Unfortunately, new plants and animals have further interrupted this delicate balance endangering the honeycreepers and the plants which they pollinate. If no solution is found then these beautiful and important birds that are still part of Hawaiian nature could be extinct forever.
Hawaiian Honeycreeper Facts & Interesting Info
- Evolution and Diversity: Hawaiian honeycreepers are a good example of how one species may diversify into many others. Coming from one common ancestor each has had to evolve other special adaptations such as different beak shapes where they find themselves to exist.
- Beak Specialisation: Honeycreepers are yet another category of birds that have special beaks which help them feed in various ways. The ‘I’iwi bird has a medium-sized and curved beak. The Maui Parrotbill has a firm hooked beak-like parrot. The ‘Akiapola‘au has a very unusual beak where the bottom of the beak is straight while the upper part has a curve.
- Cultural Significance: The red feathers of ‘I’iwi as well as ‘Apapane birds were of great value to early Hawaiians. Artisans use these feathers to create stunning garments and caps for kings and queens. These creations are the best example of native Hawaiian craftsmanship representing both power and beauty.
- Diet and Feeding Habits: Honeycreepers are omnivores and their diet, which contrasts between the different kinds, includes insects and fruits. Whereas most species of these birds feed on nectar some feed on insects, spiders and fruits.
High Elevation Habitat: Some of these honeycreepers live in mountainous regions and many Mountain habitats offer protection from diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. These forests stand at over 1,200 metres and the mountain habitats of honeycreepers have little standing water, and cooler temperatures also reduce mosquito breeding.
Distribution
Most of these small bird species exist only in Hawaii making them even more vulnerable because they have adapted to isolated conditions. They are found in native forests in the islands but are most populous in regions that are comparatively free from diseases such as avian malaria found at low altitudes. Some are now only found in fragments of forest amidst the large islands of Hawaii, including Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island with active preservation.
Maui has areas of rainforest and a biological divide that supports populations of honeycreepers such as the ‘I’iwi, the Maui ‘Alauahio, and the critically endangered Kiwikiu. This small parrot, known as the Kiwikiu or Maui Parrotbill, is now a honeycreeper species numbering less than 250 in the wild. These birds are mainly found in mountain forests on Maui, commonly specified by ʻōhiʻa and koa trees.
Wondering Where Are the Best Places to See Hawaiian Honeycreepers in the Wild?
For Bird watchers and natural lovers, it will be an unforgettable experience to see the birds in their natural habitat. If you are visiting Maui, the Haleakalā National Park offers the opportunities to spot these endangered birds of Hawaii. Here, it has a high altitude and huge tracts of native habitats, which protect honeycreepers such as the ‘I’iwi, ‘Apapane and rarely seen Kiwikiu. The best time to take a shot is in the morning, especially because the honeycreepers are at their most active in the dawn feeding on nectar and insects high up in the canopy.
Honeycreepers can also be sighted in the Kōkeʻe State Park. The Alaka’i Wilderness Preserve on Kauai is one of the special regions which has many species of honeycreepers and for Hawaii Island, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge has bird-watching tours.
The Heartbeat of Hawaii
The Hawaiian honeycreepers are a perfect example of how adaptation takes place in the natural world. Sadly, many are endangered species and only adapted to specific parts of Hawaii. There is hope as endeavours are made to safeguard their habitats and manage species. Exploring locations such as Haleakalā National Park in Maui allows for an encounter with these birds.
Although the honeycreepers remain difficult to observe in the wild because of the few populations remaining, this is an endeavour worth undertaking. If you wish to help preserve these birds, several facilities have registered, and volunteering activities conducted to encourage the consciousness and preservation of such species.
By supporting conservation initiatives we can guarantee the prosperity of these creatures.
