A rare treat to spot, the ʻakiapōlāʻau is the swiss-army knife of the Hawaiian forest. Sometimes referred to as Hawaiʻi’s version of the woodpecker, these 5-inch yellow and olive birds have an unusual bill that allows them to raise their upper bill and use the stout lower bill to peck into the wood of trees. They then use their long, curved upper bill to fish out any grubs. Look for them creeping up branches, and often flying in mixed flocks.

The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird. Learn more by visiting our species profile page for ʻakiapōlāʻau.