The ‘Akikiki or Kaua‘i Creeper (Oreomystis bairdi) is a rare, little-known Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to the island of Kaua‘i. Its range is contracting, the population is declining, and it is a candidate for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. We report an instance of foraging by excavation observed on 22 May 2006, a behavior previously unknown in this species, and on parental behavior at two nests observed on 24 May 2006 and 27 May 2007, about which there is little previous information. Both parents brought food to the nest, the male provided food for the female, and the female also foraged independently. The nesting pair in 2007 had a juvenile from a previous nest, indicating the ‘Akikiki will attempt to raise two broods. These observations are of limited extent, but even small facts can contribute to our understanding of the biology of the ‘Akikiki and causes of its decline.
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1 March 2008
Foraging and Nesting of the ‘Akikiki or Kaua‘i Creeper (Oreomystis bairdi)
Eric A. VanderWerf,
Pauline K. Roberts
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The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Vol. 120 • No. 1
March 2008
Vol. 120 • No. 1
March 2008