Manu Minute: The rattling ΄akekeke

By Patrick Hart,

Ann Tanimoto-Johnson, Savannah Harriman-Pote

Published June 22, 2022 at 1:24 PM HST

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1 of 3 — Ann Tanimoto-Johnson Ruddy turnstone 1

Like many shorebirds, ΄akekeke make non-stop migrations across the northern Pacific to Alaska in order to breed. They spend the summer in the Arctic where they can take advantage of abundant food resources.

Ann Tanimoto-Johnson

2 of 3 — Ann Tanimoto-Johnson Ruddy turnstone 2

During non-breeding season, ΄akekeke can be found in Hawai΄i (as well as along a wide range of coastal regions) along wetlands and shorelines. You can often see them foraging in small flocks. ΄Akekeke probe along the rocks and shores for crustaceans, mollusks, small fish, worms, and bird eggs.

Ann Tanimoto-Johnson

3 of 3 — Ann Tanimoto-Johnson Ruddy turnstone 3

΄Akekeke, also known as ruddy turnstones, are medium-sized sandpipers. Their bodies are a little longer than dinner forks, and they can weigh up to 190 grams, roughly the same as a roll of nickels.

Ann Tanimoto-Johnson

΄Akekeke have a lot in common with the kōlea and the ʻūlili. All these lovely sandpipers call Hawai΄i home in the winter, but the real party comes with the long summer days.

After a nonstop flight to Alaska (or a similarly chilly locale), these shorebirds show off their fresh breeding plumage and secure a mate. Males and females split parenting duties for the season. They can raise up to four chicks in a nest.

If they survive the summer, these youngins will make their own trips back to Hawai΄i.

If you listen closely, you might hear an ΄akekeke tell you its name!

AMTJ_Akekeke (Ruddy turnstone) Spectrogram video.mp4

Audio credit: Niels Krabbe/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML240141)
Audio credit: Patrik Aberg/Xeno Canto (XC406194)