Phaethon lepturus | white-tailed tropicbird | koaʻe kea
Indigenous
Other Names: koae kea, koa'e kea
Koaʻe kea, with their long white tail feathers, is a graceful flyer over the ocean. With a wingspan of about 3-feet, they are brilliant white with black streaks around its eyes and along wing edges. Feeding on fish and squid throughout the day, they nest and roost in the security of cliff faces and rock crevices. The long tail feathers were highly valued by Hawaiian artisans, especially in the making of kahili, or feather standards that surrounded royalty.
The map below shows birding trails where you might see this bird. Learn more by visiting our species profile page for koaʻe kea.
Hotspots for white-tailed tropicbird
- Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
- Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary | Details for Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
- Pihea Trail | Details for Pihea Trail
- Kapiʻolani Park | Details for Kapiʻolani Park
- Lānaʻi Lookout | Details for Lānaʻi Lookout
- Waimea Valley | Details for Waimea Valley
- Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary | Details for Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
- SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park | Details for SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
- Leleiwi Overlook (Haleakalā National Park) | Details for Leleiwi Overlook (Haleakalā National Park)
- Open Ocean | Details for Open Ocean
- Keāhole Point | Details for Keāhole Point
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)
Pihea Trail
Wet forest
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Pihea-Trail-300x180.jpg)
![Hiking Hiking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/hiking.png)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Kapiʻolani Park
Pasture and grasslands
![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)
![Picnic area Picnic area](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/picnic.png)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Lānaʻi Lookout
Coastal
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
Waimea Valley
Wet forestWetland
![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)
Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetland
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)
SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
Coastal
![Waianapanapa State Park](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Waianapanapa-300x180.jpg)
![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)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Leleiwi Overlook (Haleakalā National Park)
Dry forest
![Leleiwi Overlook](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Leleiwi-300x180.jpg)
![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)
![Trash Trash](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/trash.png)
Open Ocean
Open Ocean
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Open-Ocean-300x180.jpg)
Keāhole Point
Coastal
![](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/Keahole-Point-300x180.jpg)
![Lookout Lookout](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/lookout.png)
![Parking Parking](https://hawaiibirdingtrails.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/parking2.png)