 This bird builds nests primarily of twigs high up in trees, while the akepa uses tree cavities as nest sites.The akekee is currently found only in the Waimea Canyon State Park, Alakai Wilderness Preserve and Kōkee State Park.It has been heading toward extinction because of its lack of tolerance to alteration of its habitat, which is based on mesic and wet forests, especially ōhia lehua ("Metrosideros polymorpha") trees.