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
The most critically imperiled are its endemic honeycreepers, bright and beautiful tropical songbirds that used to fill the forests with their melodious trill.
—
Stephanie Pearson, Outside, 17 Mar. 2026
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
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
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
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Stephanie Pearson, Outside, 17 Mar. 2026
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
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Honeycreeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeycreeper. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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