This is one of the most difficult birds to spot on Hawai'i. From a distance the female 'akepa looks similar to the numerous other "little green birds" on the island, but is vastly outnumbered by the abundant Hawai'i 'amakihi and Japanese White-eyes. The habitat and foraging habits of all the "little green birds" are very similar, as well.
Her breast has the orange tinge of an 'akepa, and she lacks the black lores of the 'amakihi or the "raccoon mask" of the Hawai'i creeper.
There are only a few thousand 'akepa left on the island, and only half of them are females. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. In contrast, the singing dayglow orange males are slightly easier to find and identify.
(Note: it's also possible this is a juvenile male. This is the only 'akepa I've ever seen clearly.)
