Palila (Loxioides bailleui), an endangered Hawaiian Honeycreeper specializes on pods of the māmane tree (Sophora chrysophylla).  This species’ recovery plan includes a captive propagation component to aid in the increase of population numbers via reintroduction.  Captive and reintroduced birds have been observed practicing a foraging mode not documented in wild birds.  I examined the foraging proficiency and foraging mode in captive, reintroduced, and wild birds by collecting foraging data on each of the three bird-types.  Data was collected on captive birds at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center and at the reintroduction site (Pu‘u Mali, Mauna Kea).   Data for wild birds was collected at Pu‘u Lā‘au, Mauna Kea, the population core.  Results support hypotheses that captive and reintroduced Palila are not as proficient at foraging as their wild counterparts and that they do practice a newly documented foraging mode.  Decreased foraging proficiency in captive-raised Palila may have detrimental effects on their survivability upon release.  However, through adequate pre-release preparation captive-raised bird reintroduction can be successful.