General

Akikiki: Small songbird found on the island of Kauai; has dark gray to olive-gray upperparts and paler, brown-gray underparts with white breast, throat and undertail coverts. Rather short, square tail and short, pointed, pink, slightly down-curving bill. Dull pink legs and feet; iris is dark brown. No sexual distinction. Juveniles are similar in color to adults but have a prominent white patch around each eye. Some juveniles display off-white to light gray wing-bars.

Breeding and Nesting

Akikiki: Nesting occurs from March to June, with both males and females constructing nests of moss and lichen, several meters up in the crowns of ohia trees. In May the female lays a clutch of one to two eggs, which are incubated for 16 to 18 days. The nestlings remain in the nest for 17 to 19 days, with both parents feeding the nestlings before and after they fledge.

Foraging and Feeding

Akikiki: Their diet includes insects, insect larvae and spiders. Their short pointed bill is used to pick small insects, larvae and other arthropods off of bark, and vegetation off of trees and other native Hawaiian plants. They forage primarily on trunks, branches and twigs of live and dead ohia and koa trees. Their tongue is short, non-tubular and bifurcated.

Vocalization

Akikiki: Short series of loud ringing notes. Their most distinct call is a quiet, up slurred "tsweet" or "chwit". Juveniles emit a series of sharp notes, "chi-di-dit chi-dit chit-chi-dit." Advertising song consists of six to eight note trills.

Similar Species

Akikiki: Puaohi has darker gray underparts and a white eye ring.