The endangered ʻuaʻu are around 16 inches long and have a 36-inch wingspan. Their head, wings and tail are a sooty color with a slightly paler back and their forehead and underparts are white with a short tail. They are usually only seen near land during their breeding season (March to October). where they nest in burrow colonies after dark. Otherwise, they spend most of their lives over the open ocean, feeding on squid, fish, and crustaceans. Historically, Hawaiians travelling upland valued its cooked meat.

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