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
This has been observed in a bird in Colombia called the green honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza), as well as in some bees, butterflies, spiders, and stick insects.
—
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Apr. 2026
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
Originally, the Aedes aegypti mosquito was restricted to Hawai’i’s lower elevations, which allowed some of Hawai’i’s honeycreepers to live at higher elevations and thus survive.
—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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Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Apr. 2026
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
Originally, the Aedes aegypti mosquito was restricted to Hawai’i’s lower elevations, which allowed some of Hawai’i’s honeycreepers to live at higher elevations and thus survive.
—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 7 May. 2026.
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