The kiwikiu is only found on Maui at elevations of about 1,000 to 3,000 feet in mesic and wet forest within a range of only19 square miles. Sexes are alike with olive green and yellow bodies. Their insectivorous diet is aided by their large hooked upper bill which enables them to peel bark off trees ...
Read More Maui parrotbill
Archives by Month:
The endangered Maui ʻalauahio is a small endemic forest bird only found on Maui. Males are light yellow while females are light olive with tints of yellow. Foraging often happens in the understory in pairs or in groups, sometimes with other species.
The critically endangered ʻākohekohe is easily recognized by its destinct tuft of white feathers just above the beak. Body plumage is overall dark with light orange around the eyes, and darker orange on the neck. Like other Hawaiian forest birds, ʻākohekohe feeds primarily on nectar from the ʻōhiʻa tree and can be seen flitting along ...
Read More akohekohe
Males of the Hawaiʻi ʻākepa are unmistakable with their entire body colored blaze orange. Females are a drab yellow/green. This small endemic bird also has a slightly crossed bill that it uses to pry open ʻōhiʻa leaf buds for insect to eat. Restricted to higher wet forests of Hawaiʻi Island, this is the only native ...
Read More Hawaii akepa
The ʻalawī is an endangered insect eater endemic to high-elevation forests on Hawaiʻi Island. It may look similar to ʻamakihi, with its greenish-yellowish-grey body and 5-inch length, but has a straighter and more pointed bill to probe through bark, a behavior that led to its English name of Hawaiʻi creeper. ʻAlawī also have a more ...
Read More Hawaii creeper
The most common native bird, the ʻamakihi is an adaptable bird in a changing landscape. A small greenish-yellowish-grayish bird at 4 ½ inches, they flit about the trees sipping nectar and catching insects in almost every type of Hawaiian forest. While avian malaria is decimating other native bird species, the amakihi appears to be adapting, ...
Read More Hawaii amakihi
A rare treat to spot, the ʻakiapōlāʻau is the swiss-army knife of the Hawaiian forest. Sometimes referred to as Hawaiʻi’s version of the woodpecker, these 5-inch yellow and olive birds have a unusual bills that allows them to raise their upper bill and use the stout lower bill to peck into the wood of trees. ...
Read More akiapolaau
The spectacular ʻiʻiwi is an icon of the Hawaiian forest. With it’s distinctive long curved salmon bill, red feathers, and black wings, they are only 5 ½-inches long. Spot them flitting atop the trees, sipping nectar from the lehua flowers. Their bill has also specially evolved to fit into tubular flowers that in-turn have evolved ...
Read More iiwi
ʻApapane are perhaps the most abundant native bird on Hawaiʻi island and are often observed in upland native forest. ʻApapane forage for insects, bugs, and nectar in the tree tops, especially in ʻōhiʻa trees. They are famous for their variable repertoire of songs. Adult birds are over 5 inches long with crimson red feathers over ...
Read More apapane
One of the largest of Hawaiʻi’s forest birds at 6-inches in length, the palila is unmistakable with it’s bright yellow head and gray back with light gray belly. They are found only on the southwest slopes of Mauna Kea where they feed almost exclusively on immature green mamane bean pods. These pods are extremely toxic, ...
Read More palila
The ʻōmaʻo is one of only two remaining species of native thrush (the other being the endangered puaiohi of Kauaʻi) that were once common throughout Hawaiʻi. They eat fruit and play a role in spreading native plants throughout the forest. Mysteriously, they have not been seen in the Kona and Kohala areas of Hawaiʻi Island ...
Read More omao
The curious ʻelepaio is a lively bird of the Hawaiian forest. At only 5-inches long, they flit through the forest trees catching insects. A rusty brown body with streaks of chestnut, dark brown, and white, they are distinct when they sit with their tail upright. Listen for their dog-toy-like squeak, “el-e-PAI-o.” Hawaiian canoe makers revered ...
Read More Hawaii elepaio
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 ...
Read More Hawaiian short-eared owl
Noio are an endemic subspecies of black noddy and are present year-round in Hawaiʻi. They are often observed near sea cliffs when breeding. Their breeding season is variable, but many birds begin to nest on ocean cliff ledges and caves in late spring. Noio are 14 inches long with a 28 inch wingspan. Their feathers ...
Read More black noddy
The aeʻo, or Hawaiian black-necked stilt, is easy to spot with their long pink legs, and black and white feather colors. Though endangered, they are often seen at their favorite ponds and mudflats feeding on fish, crabs, worms and aquatic insects. Though only 15 inches in length, they have the longest legs of any bird, ...
Read More Hawaiian black-necked stilt