akikiki

The ʻAkikiki is a small Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to the island of Kauaʻi. Adults measure about 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) in length and weigh approximately 10–12 grams. They have grayish-brown upperparts and white underparts, with a short, slightly curved bill adapted for gleaning insects from tree bark. Unlike some other Hawaiian honeycreepers, the ʻAkikiki forages mostly on trunks and branches, picking off insects and spiders. The bird inhabits high-elevation montane wet forests, relying on native ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) and koa (Acacia koa) trees for foraging and nesting. The species is highly dependent on intact native forests and is sensitive to changes in its environment, which makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction and invasive species.

Historically widespread at various elevations, its range has dramatically shrunk due to invasive species, disease, habitat loss, and climate change. From a 2018 estimate of ~450 birds, it declined to possibly extinct-in-the-wild by 2024 . Conservation efforts include the launch of captive breeding in 2015 (first captive egg in 2018) and strategies to control mosquitoes (e.g., Wolbachia release planned) alongside habitat protection. With an estimated generation length of 5.7 years, immediate action is critical to prevent total extinction.