AMAKIHI
(male)
DESCRIPTION: 4½″. Yellow-green with no outstanding markings, and a dark slightly downcurved bill. The male is bright green above with a yellowish breast, while the female and immatures are duller, tending toward gray-green. It is a real problem to distinguish between a female or young amakihi and the very rare Hawaiian creeper (next bird).
PARK DISTRIBUTION: Kilauea—Very common on the slopes of Mauna Loa around tree-line (for example along the Mauna Loa trail); less common in the wet ohia forests around Kilauea Crater and along the Chain of Craters road. Haleakala—Common in the open forests such as Hosmer Grove and Paliku.
VOICE: The usual song, a slow tinkling trill, tink-tink-tink-tink-tink-tink-tink or wheedle-wheedle-wheedle, etc., is uttered by the male. Commonest foraging note (both sexes) is a high djeee; another note is wheee with a rising inflection.
You will see a little green bird flit into a mamani or other nearby tree and begin to seek insects among the foliage, visiting the blossoms for nectar if the tree happens to be in bloom. You hear a buzzy djeee and you have made acquaintance with the amakihi. This Hawaiian honeycreeper prefers more open forest than do the other two common members of the family, the apapane and iiwi. But often all three are found together, with the amakihis working through the entire foliage and not just in the tree tops.
Seasonal movements are much less obvious than for either apapanes or iiwis, probably because amakihis are less dependent on flowering periods. However, some migration does occur, especially in and out of their lower range below 3,000 feet elevation. Nesting is in late spring and early summer.
HAWAIIAN CREEPER Loxops maculata
DESCRIPTION: 4½″. Very similar to the female or immature amakihi, but the bill is straighter and tends to be lighter in color. Creepers search for insects on the trunks and heavier branches, while amakihis usually work more in the foliage.
PARK DISTRIBUTION: Kilauea—Now very rare in the upper rain forest or koa parkland on Mauna Loa. Haleakala—Has not been definitely recorded within the park for many years.