Asio flammeus sandwichensis | Hawaiian short-eared owl | pueo
Endemic
The majestic pueo is Hawaiʻi’s endemic owl. At about 15-inches tall, they are brown and beige with dark brown streaks and piercing yellow eyes. Unlike other owls, you’ll see pueo hunting during the day in open pastures and forests. Their exciting chase is punctuated with a hover over their prey of mice, insects, or birds before they fold their wings and dive down to make the catch. Pueo are often revered as ʻaumakua, or family guardian spirits by many Hawaiians.
The map below shows birding trails where you might see this bird. Learn more by visiting our species profile page for pueo.
Hotspots for Hawaiian short-eared owl
- Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
- Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary | Details for Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
- Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park) | Details for Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park)
- Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail | Details for Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
- Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road) | Details for Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)
- Palila Forest Discovery Trail | Details for Palila Forest Discovery Trail
- Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail | Details for Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Coastal
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Kilauea-Point-NWR_D-Peebles-300x180.webp)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Ranger Station Ranger Station](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/ranger-station.png)
Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
Wetland
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Kawaiele-State-Waterbird-Sanctuary_DLNR-300x180.png)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park)
Dry forest
![Hosmer Grove](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Hosmer-300x180.jpg)
![Driving Driving](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/car.png)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Ranger Station Ranger Station](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/ranger-station.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
Dry forestPasture and grasslands
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/PuuWaawaa-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)
Pasture and grasslands
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Waikii2-300x180.jpg)
![Driving Driving](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/car.png)
Palila Forest Discovery Trail
Dry forest
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Palila-Forest-Discovery-Trail-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
Dry forest
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Puu-Huluhulu-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Bathroom Bathroom](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/restrooms.png)
![Interpretive Signage Interpretive Signage](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/signage.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)