Drepanis

/drɪˈpeɪnɪs/ noun

Definition

A genus of Hawaiian honeycreeper birds that includes the amakihi species with slightly curved bills.

Etymology

From Greek 'drepane' (sickle), named for the birds' characteristic curved bill shape.

Kelly Says

Drepanis birds are still found in Hawaii's remote high-altitude forests, where they've escaped the mosquito-borne diseases that wiped out most honeycreeper species in lowland areas—geography can literally mean the difference between extinction and survival.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.