Bird of the day
Maui ʻakepa
Loxops ochraceus
The Maui ʻākepa (Loxops ochraceus) is an extinct species of ʻākepa that was endemic to Maui in the Hawaiian Islands. It was once common throughout the island, but introduced mosquitoes and other animals to Maui contributed to the declining population, and the bird has been listed as extinct by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2024. The latest confirmed sighting of this bird was in 1988, and in 2021 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service proposed declaring it extinct. The species was delisted from the Endangered Species Act on October 16, 2023 citing extinction.
It was a four-inch (10 cm) long bird of a dusty green color. It had a small cross bill just like the other Loxops species. Its call was a slight quivering whistle ending with a long trill. It appeared as a small fast moving ball of fluff of green, as it flew from tree to tree.
Aliases
Maui ʻAkepa