The Hawaii ÃÂkepa (Loxops coccineus) is an endangered ÃÂkepa native to Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. The three ÃÂkepa species were considered monotypic before being split by the NACC of the AOU in 2015. The Hawaii ÃÂkepa was first collected by western science during Captain James Cook's third voyage around the world. Several specimens were collected, as well as feather leis (necklaces resembling strings of flowers) constructed by Hawaiian artisans. The specimens were classified when brought back to England several years later. The Latin name of the bird, Loxops coccineus, means "crossed" (Loxops) and "red" (coccineus).
It is a four-inch (10 cm) long bird of a dusty green color. Males are bright orange. It has a small cross bill just like the other Loxops species. Its call is a slight quivering whistle ending with a long trill.
The Hawaii ÃÂkepa survives only in two or three locations, all on the island of Hawaii: one population in Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (on the Hamakua Coast of Mauna Kea), one in the upper forest areas of KaÃ»à « (in the southern part of the island), and one on the northern slope of HualÃÂlai (perhaps extirpated). As of 2000, about 14,000 Hawaii ÃÂkepa remained. They were listed as an endangered species in 1975.
It eats spiders and other invertebrates and drinks the nectar of several flowers including the nectar of the à Âhia, the naio and the lobelia.
These birds have a breeding season in spring. The Hawaii ÃÂkepa is the only obligate cavity-nester in Hawaii. There are no cavity-making birds in Hawaii (another honeycreeper, the akiapà ÂlÃÂau, drills small holes and excavates bark, but does not make holes large enough for ÃÂkepa nests). Thus, the ÃÂkepa must find naturally occurring cavities in the trunks and branches. Such cavities are generally found only in very large, old trees, making the ÃÂkepa an old-growth obligate. Large courtship groups have been observed during the breeding season, which is curious because this species makes permanent bonds. Another anomaly is the fact that for such a small bird, it does not lay many eggsâÂÂusually one or two, instead of the three to five of other similarly sized species.
Surviving ÃÂkepa live only in old growth forest above elevation. This is a sign that avian malaria and avian pox have played a role in killing off populations of ÃÂkepa at lower elevations. These introduced diseases are implicated in more than 20 bird extinctions in Hawaii since 1826, when the first mosquito species (southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus) was introduced to the islands. Disease continues to be a threat and could result in extinction of the ÃÂkepa if Hawaiian climate continues to warm (or if new bird diseases or mosquito species are allowed to invade the islands).
Due to their need for tree cavities, ÃÂkepa rely on old-growth à Âhia and koa forests for nesting. Although the largest populations of ÃÂkepa live within protected lands, large trees appear to be falling faster than they are replaced. It is unclear how management can deal with this in the medium-term, except by use of artificial nest boxes. Past experiments with nest boxes (Freed et al., 1987) have shown that birds will occasionally use them, with high nesting success. There is no ongoing research or use of nest boxes for ÃÂkepa as of 2010.