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

Illustration of honeycreeper

• honeycreeper 2

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

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

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for honeycreeper

• beekeeper
• bookkeeper
• doorkeeper
• gamekeeper
• gatekeeper
• goalkeeper
• housekeeper
• innkeeper
• minesweeper
• peacekeeper
• shopkeeper
• storekeeper