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Brooks Rownd | profile | all galleries >> Hawai'i >> Hawaiian Flora and Fauna >> Hawaiian Birds >> Hawai'i Creeper tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

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Hawai'i Creeper

Hawai'i creepers forage for bugs on trunks, branches and foliage. Creepers are rare, and easily confused with 'amakihi and the other "little green birds". They spend a bit more time foraging lower on the tree trunks and main branches than the 'amakihi do, and usually in taller/deeper forests than 'amakihi prefer. Due to its rarity and similarity to 'amakihi in appearance and behavior, the Hawai'i creeper is usually best found by listening for its calls. Groups of creepers will exchange a quiet "sweet" call, and their song is an unmusical and distinctive chattering "cackle". Juveniles give a rapid and repeated sharp "wit-wit" when following and begging from their parents. Apparently their whisper songs are very complex, in contrast to their other simpler calls.

Compared to 'amakihi, creepers' bills are slightly less curved, less conical and usually not as dark. However, bill shape, size and color can be a bit variable. The dark lores and eye stripe are also quite variable in both creepers and 'amakihi, and can be particularly variable in photos depending on lighting and exposure. The most distinctive ID point seems to be the pale/grey throat, colored differently than the breast. What I heard is "creepers never have yellow throats!"

Each of the major islands has (or had) its own species of "creeper", but most are extinct, and were poorly documented and never photographed. The other oreomystis creeper is the 'akikiki of Kaua'i, which is in serious decline. The paroreomyza creepers include the O'ahu 'alauahio (last seen 1985?), Lana'i 'alauahio, and Moloka'i's kakawahie (last seen 1963) are extinct. Maui's 'alauahio is still fairly numerous, but contracting in range.

This creeper was very agitated about my presence, and attracted a flock of i'iwi who imitated its calls: MP3 (1.9Mb)

Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawaii Creeper
Hawaii Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Juvenile Hawai'i Creeper
Juvenile Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Hawai'i Creeper
Kipuka 'Ainahou Creepers
[ Kipuka 'Ainahou Creepers ]
Hawai'i Creeper, Feb. 22, 2009
[ Hawai'i Creeper, Feb. 22, 2009 ]