ComingsBirds.com/Birdgroups-A-L

To the Beauty of Birds

Akiapōlāʻau Hemignathus munroi, (ah-kee-ah-POH-LAH-OW), is a Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to the Big Island (Island of Hawaii). Its natural habitats are montane moist forests. It is the only bird species on the island to occupy the woodpecker niche. The bird has an unusually curved beak with an upper jaw deeply curved and long and a lower jaw much shorter and straight. This allows the bird to get at larvae in deep places and hold them with the lower jaw.

These photos were taken in the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on the Big Island next to Mauna Kea, the very high volcano that houses all the telescopes. The Hakalau Forest is closed to the public. We gained access by having a professional licensed bird guide, Jack Jefferys, lead the way. It is a very rare bird with only three pairs at this location. I was lucky enough to have it plop down on a tree with few leaves, almost at eye level.

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