The ʻakeʻake is a small bat-like seabird that will sometimes “tap-dance” on the water to attract its prey of small squid and crustaceans. While long suspected to be a breeding resident in Hawaiʻi, the first burrow of this small and secretive bird was not found until 2015 on Hawaiʻi Island. It is listed as federally endangered, though still little is known about the population size of this species in Hawaiʻi.

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