Akikiki
CR

Akikiki

Oreomystis bairdi

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBAkikiki

Overview

The ʻakikiki, also called the Kauaʻi creeper, is a critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper endemic to Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi. It is the only member of the genus Oreomystis. Of the Hawaiian birds known to be extant, it is thought to be the most endangered, with only 454 wild individuals reported as of 2018.

A survey report in 2021 estimated the population at 45 with a 5 percent annual decrease, in July 2023 the remaining number of wild birds was estimated to be just 5 individuals. Pakele, the last known wild ʻakikiki, was last seen on August 29, 2025; she was honored as the last wild member of her species.

Oreomystis bairdi faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from cattle grazing and invasive plant species that degrade native understory vegetation. Introduced predators, particularly feral cats and rats, pose significant threats to nesting birds and their eggs. Climate change exacerbates these pressures by altering the montane forest ecosystems this species depends upon, while disease transmission from introduced bird species further compromises already fragmented populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This Hawaiian honeycreeper inhabits native montane wet forests and mesic forests at elevations between 1,200 and 2,100 meters on the island of Kauai. It requires dense understory vegetation with native shrubs and trees, particularly favoring areas with abundant arthropod populations that support its insectivorous feeding behavior.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area managementSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in FRINGILLIDAE

VU

Iiwi

Drepanis coccinea

Declining
Maui AlauahioEN

Maui Alauahio

Paroreomyza montana

Declining
EN

Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch

Fringilla polatzeki

Increasing
VU

Ankober Serin

Crithagra ankoberensis

Declining

Threatened in United States

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Unknown
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Akikiki classified as Critically Endangered?
Akikiki is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Oreomystis bairdi faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from cattle grazing and invasive plant species that degrade native understory vegetation. Introduced predators, particularly feral cats and rats, pose significant threats to nesting birds and their eggs. Climate change exacerbates these pressures by altering the montane forest ecosystems this species depends upon, while disease transmission from introduced bird species further compromises already fragmented populations.
Where does Akikiki live?
Akikiki occurs in United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Akikiki?
The main threats to Akikiki are 11.1, 11.4, 2.1, and 2.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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