Branta sandvicensis | Hawaiian goose | nēnē
Endemic
Other Names: nēnē
Hawaiʻi’s State bird, the nēnē, is an iconic favorite among locals. Though endangered, they have recovered spectacularly since near extinction in the 1940s and now are found on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, and Kauaʻi, though carefully managed. Related to the Canada goose, the nēnē differ in their smaller stature at about 25” tall and a white with black-streaked neck. They’ve adapted to island life, have less webbing on their feet and preferring open country and scrublands—and even golf courses!
The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird. Learn more by visiting our species profile page for nēnē.
Hotspots for Hawaiian goose
- Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
- Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
- Māhā’ulepū Heritage Trail | Details for Māhā’ulepū Heritage Trail
- Salt Pond Beach Park | Details for Salt Pond Beach Park
- Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary | Details for Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
- Pihea Trail | Details for Pihea Trail
- Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
- Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary | Details for Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
- Waikamoi Preserve (The Nature Conservancy-PRIVATE) | Details for Waikamoi Preserve (The Nature Conservancy-PRIVATE)
- Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park) | Details for Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park)
- Leleiwi Overlook (Haleakalā National Park) | Details for Leleiwi Overlook (Haleakalā National Park)
- Keāhole Point | Details for Keāhole Point
- Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park | Details for Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
- Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail | Details for Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
- Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail | Details for Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
- Wailoa River State Park | Details for Wailoa River State Park
- Loko Waka Pond | Details for Loko Waka Pond
Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Coastal
Māhā’ulepū Heritage Trail
Coastal
Salt Pond Beach Park
Coastal
Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
Wetland
Pihea Trail
Wet forest
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetland
Waikamoi Preserve (The Nature Conservancy-PRIVATE)
Wet forest
Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park)
Dry forest
Leleiwi Overlook (Haleakalā National Park)
Dry forest
Keāhole Point
Coastal
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
Wetland
Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
Pasture and grasslandsDry forest
Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
Dry forest
Wailoa River State Park
Wetland
Loko Waka Pond
Wetland
