Woodpeckers in Hawaii

Hawaii, a treasure trove of flora and fauna, seems to many as the perfect ecosystem for hosting woodpeckers. But contrary to popular belief, it is home to only a single species of woodpecker – the northern flicker. But the Aloha state, as unique as it is, has its own woodpecker version. The ‘Akiapola’au or Hawaiian woodpecker is a honeycreeper that is technically not a woodpecker, doesn’t look like one, but exhibits similar behavior of pecking into the wood of trees for procuring food. It is an endangered endemic species with an unusual-looking bill. The upper beak is long and curved downward for probing, while the shorter lower beak acts as a chisel.