Illustration of honeycreeper
- honeycreeper 2
honeycreeper
noun
hon·ey·creep·er
ˈhə-nē-ˌkrē-pər 
1
: any of numerous small bright-colored oscine birds (especially genus Cyanerpes of the family Thraupidae) of tropical America
2
: any of a family (Drepanididae) of often colorful oscine birds found only in Hawaii
Examples of honeycreeper in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Several of the remaining honeycreeper species are highly endangered, including the ‘ākohekohe, or crested honeycreeper; the kiwikiu, or Maui parrotbill; and the ʻakekeʻe, or Kauai ‘ākepa.
—
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 June 2025
Fighting mosquitoes with mosquitoes For more than a year now, a group of environmental organizations have been dropping biodegradable containers of mosquitoes into honeycreeper habitats on Maui and Kauai from helicopters.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
This is a multi-agency partnership, spearheaded by the American Bird Conservancy, that is working to protect native Hawaiian honeycreepers from extinction caused by avian diseases, particularly avian malaria, transmitted by invasive mosquitoes.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Unlike some other honeycreepers, the ʻĀkohekohe does not breed easily in captivity.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Rising temperatures from climate change have allowed disease-carrying mosquitoes to invade these higher elevations, putting honeycreepers at grave risk.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
This special honeycreeper is one of many animals that display bilateral gynandromorphism, a trait where animals present both male and female characteristics even though their species usually have distinct sexes.
—Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 8 May 2024
Now, more of these imperiled birds are falling victim to avian diseases carried by mosquitos—of 13 honeycreepers released in Maui in 2019 to try to re-establish a population there, all were killed by avian malaria.
—Krista Langlois, Outside Online, 10 Mar. 2023
Ten species of birds, including the Bachman's warbler, a small yellow and black songbird, in Florida and South Carolina; the Bridled white-eye, a green, yellow and white tropical lowland forest bird from Guam, and eight honeycreeper species in Hawaii, have also been delisted.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2023
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Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 June 2025
Fighting mosquitoes with mosquitoes For more than a year now, a group of environmental organizations have been dropping biodegradable containers of mosquitoes into honeycreeper habitats on Maui and Kauai from helicopters.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
This is a multi-agency partnership, spearheaded by the American Bird Conservancy, that is working to protect native Hawaiian honeycreepers from extinction caused by avian diseases, particularly avian malaria, transmitted by invasive mosquitoes.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Unlike some other honeycreepers, the ʻĀkohekohe does not breed easily in captivity.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Rising temperatures from climate change have allowed disease-carrying mosquitoes to invade these higher elevations, putting honeycreepers at grave risk.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
This special honeycreeper is one of many animals that display bilateral gynandromorphism, a trait where animals present both male and female characteristics even though their species usually have distinct sexes.
—Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 8 May 2024
Now, more of these imperiled birds are falling victim to avian diseases carried by mosquitos—of 13 honeycreepers released in Maui in 2019 to try to re-establish a population there, all were killed by avian malaria.
—Krista Langlois, Outside Online, 10 Mar. 2023
Ten species of birds, including the Bachman's warbler, a small yellow and black songbird, in Florida and South Carolina; the Bridled white-eye, a green, yellow and white tropical lowland forest bird from Guam, and eight honeycreeper species in Hawaii, have also been delisted.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Honeycreeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeycreeper. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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