Often soaring high in the sky, the ʻiwa is commonly seen throughout the pacific They are easy to spot with their large black body and 7 ½-foot wingspan. Females have white breast feathers, while the males have a bright red throat pouch that they inflate like a balloon to attract females. In the Hawaiian language, ʻiwa means thief and refers to their bullying of other seabirds to drop their food, which they then swoop down to steal. Often, a group of ʻiwa is an omen of stormy weather approaching.

The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird. Learn more by visiting our species profile page for ʻiwa.