The Kauai ʻakialoa is an extinct species of Hawaiian honeycreeper in the subfamily Carduelinae of the family Fringillidae. It was endemic to the island of Kauai, Hawaii, and became extinct in the 20th century due to introduced avian disease and habitat loss. The Kauai ʻakialoa was about seven and a half inches in length and had a very long downcurved bill, which covered one third of its length. The adult males were bright olive-yellow on top and yellow on the bottom. The throat, breast, and sides of the body were olive-yellow. The females, however, were green-gray above and had a shorter bill.
Region
Hawaiian Islands (Kauaʻi)
Typical Environment
Historically restricted to native wet and mesic forests on Kauaʻi, especially dominated by ʻōhiʻa lehua and koa. It foraged from understory shrubs up to the mid and upper canopy, following flowering plants and areas with flaky bark. As disease pressure increased, the species became confined to higher-elevation forests where mosquitoes were less common. Its persistence depended on intact native forests with abundant flowering plants and arthropod-rich bark microhabitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Kauaʻi ʻakialoa was a Hawaiian honeycreeper notable for its extremely long, downcurved bill, adapted for probing flowers and bark crevices. It evolved as part of the remarkable adaptive radiation of Hawaiian finches. The species declined rapidly in the 20th century due to avian malaria spread by introduced mosquitoes and the loss of native forest habitat, and is now extinct.
1: male 2: juvenile 3: female
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through forest understory and mid-canopy
Social Behavior
Usually observed alone or in pairs, moving methodically along branches and trunks to probe bark and flowers. Nesting behavior is poorly documented but likely involved cup nests placed in trees, as in related honeycreepers. Breeding pairs were probably seasonally territorial around rich foraging sites.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Calls were described as thin, high-pitched notes and soft chips, with a modest, tinkling song. Vocalizations carried through dense foliage but were not especially loud or complex compared to some other honeycreepers.
