This Rare Hawaiian Bird Has a ‘Swiss Army’ Beak and Swings Its Body Like an Ax
Learn how Hawaii’s critically endangered ʻakiapōlāʻau uses its mismatched beak, powerful ankles, and whole-body movements to chisel into wood and extract insects.
A critically endangered Hawaiian bird, the ʻakiapōlāʻau, possesses a unique "Swiss Army" beak and employs body movements resembling those of an ax swing to drill into wood and extract insects, according to a study in Ornithology. The bird's beak is distinctly different on each side – the top half is long, thin, and bendy, while the bottom half is short and heavy, designed for chiseling.
Its unusual beak and powerful ankle muscle, which can generate significant force, allow it to excavate wood despite not having woodpecker-like adaptations. The bird's evolution is likely due to fierce competition on Hawaii, an island chain with few native species, leading to rapid adaptation. With fewer than 2,000 remaining in the wild, the bird's survival is threatened by habitat loss.
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