Introduction. Annotated List of Living Endemic Birds of Hawaii

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1 Introduction Although the following list includes only birds in my collection of Marian Berger s work, thanks to her magnificent Living Endemic Birds of Hawaii (LEBH), it includes every single living endemic bird of Hawaii. These birds are listed first, in the order presented by Marian in the LEBH series. Furthermore, a second list is included of extinct endemic birds of Hawaii, but is limited to the three included in my collection of Marian Berger s work. I wish to thank both Marian Berger and Jack Jeffrey for much of the information included in the lists. Additional information was taken from many internet sites. Biologists seem to delight in confusing birders with updated bird names and classifications (the Baltimore Oriole is now the Northern Oriole, the Myrtle Warbler is now the Yellow-Rumped Warbler, and so on). Hawaiian birds are no exception, and, due to their remote location, are subject to more classification controversy than mainland birds. For example, until 1995 the Hawaii, Kauai, and Oahu Amakihi were considered subspecies under the super-species Common Amakihi (Hemignathus virens). Recent genetic studies, however, have led to recognition of the Kauai and Oahu Amakihi as distinct species. The lists below are the best I could formulate. Annotated List of Living Endemic Birds of Hawaii 1) Ae'o (Hawaiian Stilt) - Himantopus mexicanus knudseni The Ae'o is found on all the main islands except Lanai, but numbering only about 1500 is considered endangered. Adults are cm long. They have long pink legs, a long thin black bill and are blackish above and white below, with a white head and neck with a varying amount of black. Males have a black back, often with greenish gloss. Females' backs have a brown hue, contrasting with the black remiges. Immature birds are grey instead of black and have a markedly sandy hue on the wings, with light feather fringes appearing as a whitish line in flight. The taxonomy of this bird is still somewhat contentious. Some believe that there are as many as five distinct species; others consider some or all of these to be subspecies. In addition, two dubious subspecies are also sometimes listed, but not as independent species. The Hawaiian Stilt is a slender wading bird that has the longest bill of all members of the stilt group. It feeds mainly on insects and crustaceans and readily moves to newly disturbed sites where invertebrates are easy to obtain. 2) Akeke'e (Kauai 'Akepa) - Fringillidae Loxops caeruleirostris The Akeke e is a small yellow and green bird with a black face and pale blue conical bill. The sexes are similar, with the male somewhat brighter. They move about in groups in koa/ohia forests. They are endangered, found only in the upper native rainforests of Kauai. The bill of the Akeke'e is crossed at the tip, with the lower mandible bent to one side. This adaptation allows it to pry open leaf and 1

2 flower buds to uncover the insects and spiders it eats. The Akeke'e is also known as the Kauai 'Akepa, because from 1950 to 1991, it was believed to be a type of Akepa based on its bill structure. However, closer examination revealed more differences than similarities, including nesting habits: Akepa nest in tree cavities while Akeke'e nest on branches. Found only on Kauai, Akeke'e are classified as critically endangered due to the extremely rapid decline in their numbers over the last 10 years. This is due in large part to human developments that have greatly impacted habitat availability. 3) Hawaii 'Akepa - Fringillidae Loxops coccineus The endangered Hawaii Akepa are endemic to the Big Island and are insect feeders. Their bills are crossed, specialized for feeding on small insects and spiders high in the tree canopy. Males are brilliant orange and females duller green-gray with yellow on the chest. Hawaii Akepa need old growth forest, as they nest in natural cavities in large old trees. At four inches and ten grams, the 'Akepa is one of the smallest Hawaiian forest birds. The Akepa is an endangered species found on the Big Island of Hawaii in forests above 4,500 feet. The largest population is in the Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge on the slopes of Mauna Kea Volcano. The Akepa is one of two Hawaiian birds with a slightly crossed bill tip, which it uses like a reversed pair of pliers to open flower buds and find small insects inside to eat. The HEBCP began raising this species in 1999 from eggs collected in the wild, and in 2006, 12 birds were released on the Big Island. 4) 'Akiapola'au - Fringillidae Hemignathus munroi A Hawaiian Honeycreeper endemic to the Big Island of Hawai i, the Akiapola au is one of the rarest and most endangered of Hawaii s Honeycreepers. The Akiapola au has one of the most unusual bills of any bird in the world. It uses the lower stout straight bill, with mouth wide open, to peck into the bark of Koa trees, like a woodpecker. It then uses the upper thin curved bill to hook insect larvae and pull it from its cavity. It occasionally uses its bill to drill holes into trees to drink the sap that emerges. The Akiapola au nests high in the Ohia canopy, laying one egg. The males are brilliant yellow, while the females and young are drab green. The Akiapola'au is a type of Hawaiian honeycreeper that has evolved to fill the niche occupied in other parts of the world by woodpeckers. 5) 'Akikiki (Hawaii Creeper) - Fringillidae Oreomystis mana The Hawaii Creeper is a species of finch in the Hawaiian honeycreeper subfamily, Drepanididae that is endemic to the Big Island of Hawaii. Its natural habitats are dry forests and montane moist forests at elevations of 1,000 2,300 meters. There are a total of 12,000 birds separated into three populations. A fourth population on the western part of the island probably represents migratory birds from one of the existing population. The Hawaii Creeper measures 4.5 inches and has drab green plumage. It is threatened by disease and habitat loss, but has likely profited from the conservation of other endangered birds in Hawaii. The endangered Hawaii creeper is found on the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii. It eats some nectar and fruit but feasts mainly on insects, which it finds on the bark of Ohia and koa tree trunks and in the foliage. The HEBCP began raising this species in 1997, and the flock of six adult birds was released on the slopes of Mauna Kea in The wild population is considered stable, but habitat protection will be needed to safeguard these birds in the future. 2

3 6) 'Akikiki (Kauai Creeper) - Fringillidae Oreomystis bairdi The 'Akikiki is a critically endangered bird that is found in some parts of Kauai; it is considered to be at great risk from the effects of hurricanes, introduced predators, and disease. It was found in many parts of the lowland areas but has been pushed back due to transmission of disease. It is a small greytopped white-bellied bird that is only four inches long. It is found most commonly in the Alaka'i Wilderness Preserve. The Akikiki moves slowly along the branches and trunks of trees, picking at the bark to uncover a variety of invertebrates. At the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, the San Diego Zoo is developing techniques for breeding and rearing Akikiki. 7) 'Akohekohe (Crested Honeycreeper) - Fringillidae Palmeria dolei The endangered Akohekohe is found only in the high elevation mountainous rainforest regions of Haleakala on East Maui. It is one of the largest of the honeycreepers and is very aggressive towards other bird species. It feeds primarily on nectar from Ohia and other native plants but also takes spider and small insects. Males and females are similar. Their nest is built of twigs high in the Ohia canopy. The Akohekohe is the largest honeycreeper on Maui, measuring 6.5 to 7 inches in length, and aggressively drives away other nectar-feeding birds from its food sources. 8) Aleake'oke'o (Hawaiian Coot) - Rallidae Fulica americana alai The Hawaiian coot is a small waterbird endemic to Hawai i. Adult males and females have a black head, a slate gray body with white undertail feathers, and a prominent white frontal shield and bill; feet are lobed rather than webbed and are greenish-gray. The Native Hawaiian considered Alaeke oke o to be a deity, but also good to eat. With an estimated individuals left, the species is endangered. The Alaeke'oke'o is a small water bird that feeds on leaves, seeds, snails, crustaceans, insects, small fish, and tadpoles. It frequents both freshwater and brackish wetlands, including agricultural areas, drainage ditches, and golf club ponds. However, the species has suffered great declines in population, due to the loss of immense areas of wetland habitat, introduced predators, and the use of toxic pesticides and herbicides in agriculture. Fortunately, waterfowl refuges have helped conserve some of their critical habitat. 9) Alae'ula (Hawaiian Moorhen) - Rallidae Gallinula choloropus sandvichensi The Hawaiian Moorhen is a small, striking waterbird, one of twelve recognized subspecies endemic to Hawaii. It is very similar to its North American relative in appearance; adult males and females are black above and dark slate blue below, with a white stripe on their flanks, and a prominent red shield over their red and yellow bill. Feet are lobed rather than webbed, and males are larger than females. In Hawaiian mythology, a moorhen brought fire to humans, which explains the red on its forehead, a symbol of the scorching from the fire. It is considered endangered. According to legend, the Alae'ula brought fire to the Hawaiian people from the volcano home of the gods. As he did, his formerly white brow was burned by the volcano's fire, giving this wary water bird its distinctive red forehead. 'Alae'ula are quite secretive, staying close to vegetation and quickly hiding when they sense danger. 10) Alala (Hawaiian Crow) - Corvidae Corvus hawaiiensis The Hawaiian crow is one of the many endangered birds in Hawaii. These crows once flourished over all the Hawaiian islands, now there are less than fifty Alala left. Alala means to cry like a young animal, named after its call. Alala is taken from two Hawaiian words, ala and la. Ala means to rise up, 3

4 and la, the sun. So, the meaning of Alala is to arise with the sun, so named because the Hawaiian crow makes a lot of noise in the morning. The Alala's call is a harsh, repeated caw. The Alala's feathers are dark brown, almost black, its bill, legs, and feet are black and iris brown. Their wings are noisy in motion, but silent while the Alala glides from tree to tree. The Alala is a forest bird that occupies the ecological niches that woodpeckers, parrots, and toucans do in other tropical forests. It eats mainly fruits and berries, along with some insects. The Alala is an endangered species and considered extinct in the wild, since none of these birds have been seen or heard on their native island, Hawaii, since The HEBCP began raising this species in 1996, when there were only about 23 birds in existence. Now the population has increased to 77. Land management programs are underway that will allow for future releases of the Hawaiian crow. 11) 'Aluahio (Maui Creeper) - Fringillidae Paroreomyza montana The Maui "Creeper" is so named because of its feeding habits: it creeps along trunks, branches and twigs, flipping over bark and lichen in search of insects and grub. The 'Alauahio is one of the more social honeycreepers, often congregating in flocks. It is very similar in appearance to the Hawaiian 'Amakihi. One can tell them apart by their bills - the 'Alauahio has a shorter, straighter bill. Males are bright yellow with yellow-greenish, the females and juveniles a duller yellow. Although populations of Maui Alauahio are locally abundant, it is an endangered species. The Maui Alauahio is a small Hawaiian honeycreeper that feeds on invertebrates and nectar. Very little was known about this species until an intensive study began in east Maui in When foraging for insects and other arthropods among leaves, branches, and the bark of trees, the Maui Alauahio creeps in the same way nuthatches and other creepers do. It lives in small family groups of two to six birds, and both sexes aggressively defend their shared home range. 12) Amakihi (Hawaii) - Fringillidae Hemignathus virens virens The Amakihi are a group of closely related, small, endemic olive green birds with black lores and short, decurved bills. They are found are common from sea level to the subalpine zone primarily in native forests on the islands of Hawai i, Maui, and Kauai, locally common on Oahu, uncommon on Molokai, and extirpated on Lanai. The Amakihi are characteristic birds of the Ohia forests on all islands. The Amakihi is one of Hawaii's honeycreepers and lives in koa and Ohia forests. It is a highly adaptable species that forages for the nectar of a variety of both native and introduced plants, as well as insects found on tree bark. Wild populations of Amakihi are still commonly seen on the islands, and wild eggs have been hand raised and released to find out more about techniques for breeding other honeycreeper species that are endangered. One threat Amakihi share with most Hawaiian birds is the spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes, which are moving higher into the mountains because of warmer temperatures. 13) Amakihi (Kauai and Oahu) - Fringillidae Hemignathus kauaiensis/flavus The Kauai Amakihi, the largest surviving species in the Amakihi complex, is similar to Amakihi of the other Hawaiian Islands, but has a larger, heavier, more decurved bill and a shorter tail. Limited to Kauai Island, this species is characterized as a bark specialist, prying with its bill and picking insects from crevices. Like other Amakihi, it has a fully tubular tongue adapted for taking nectar. The Kauai Amakihi is a highly adaptable bird that occupies a small area of upland forest on Kauai. This species also uses its curved bill and tubular tongue to feed on nectar. 4

5 14) Anianiau - Fringillidae Hemignathus parvus/magumma parva Smallest of the living native Hawaiian birds, this active, bright yellow bird is common in its now restricted range on the island of Kauai. Having survived two major hurricanes in the past 25 years, and seemingly faring well in the face of other perturbations that have negatively impacted other native birds, populations seem stable. This species is recognized by its small size and bright yellow coloration, with finer points of distinction being the lack of blackish lores and the short, thin bill. Call is a characteristic 2-note tew-weet. Song is lively trills of doubled and tripled notes weesee-weeseeweesee. The Anianiau mainly feeds on nectar from a few species of plants, but also takes insects and spiders. During the breeding season between late winter and early spring, the female makes a cupshaped nest from lichens and lays one to two eggs. Yellow chicks hatch after about 13 days, and are fed a high-protein diet of caterpillars until they leave the nest at about 3 weeks. 15) A'o (Hawaiian or Newell's Shearwater) - Procellariidae Puffinus auricularis newelli The A o is highly pelagic year-round, is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands at the subspecies level, and is considered threatened. Adult males and females are dark, sooty brown above, with white throat and underparts, and have a dark bill with a hooked tip. Flight is direct, fast and usually low over water, powered by rapid wing beats interspersed with glides; wing loading is higher than in more aerial shearwaters. Often forages in large, mixed species flocks associated with schools of large, predatory fishes which drive prey species to the surface. A o are colonial and nest on steep mountain slopes, with variable amounts of vegetation, where they lay a single egg in burrows, which are often placed at the base of a tree. Breeding is highly synchronous, eggs are laid in early June, and most young fledge by November. Both parents incubate egg, and brood and feed nestling. Parents forage hundreds of kilometers offshore and return to colony at night to feed chick. Age at first breeding is likely between six and seven years. A o (Newell s shearwater) breed on Kauai, the island of Hawaii, Molokai, and Lehua. The subspecies does not breed outside of Hawai i. The A'o is a seabird that breeds on the Hawaiian Islands beginning in April. The bird uses claws on its feet to excavate a nest burrow among the roots of trees or in grass. Outside of the breeding season, A'o feed on small fish driven to the surface by tuna and other large ocean predators; they capture their prey by plunging into the water from the air, an uncommon technique among warm-water seabirds. 16) Apapane - Fringillidae Hematione sanguinea Found nowhere else in the world, the Apapane is one of the most common Hawaiian honeycreepers. Found on each of the main Islands, Apapane differ little on each island and considered the same species throughout Hawaii. Adult Apapane, males and females, look exactly alike, but juveniles are a brownish gray, sometimes with red blotches as they get older. All possess white undertail coverts and a black slightly decurved bill. Apapane are found where ever the Ohia bloom in the forest and feed on nectar, insects, and fruit. The Apapane is a nectar-eating honeycreeper found in the mountain Ohia and koa forests on all of the Hawaiian Islands. Its feathers have been used by native Hawaiians in the creation of elaborate headdresses and capes. Because it is still common in the islands, the HEBCP has hand raised 'Apapane to learn how to care for other honeycreeper species that are endangered. Male Apapane are known for singing at all times of the day, and they have 6 different calls and 10 different song patterns. The male that is aggressive and sings the loudest is the one that wins the females' attention. 5

6 17) Laysan Duck - Anatidae Anas laysanensis The Laysan Duck is teal-sized and dark brown, with a prominent white eye-ring. The bill is short and spatulate, dark green with variable black blotching in males, and dull orange with variable black blotching in females. Some males show faint iridescence on the head or neck and have slightly upturned central tail feathers. The wing has an iridescent purplish-green patch (speculum feathers) in both sexes. The legs and feet are orange, usually brighter in the male. The Laysan Duck is endangered. The Laysan duck uses different habitats during various times of the day. It tends to hide in dense vegetation by day, moving at night to feed along the edge of the island's central, hypersaline lake. Laysan ducks are energetic foragers that sprint through brine fly swarms, snapping their bill to snatch the tiny insects. They also feed on sedge, grass seeds, and some algae. According to fossil evidence, the Laysan ducks once lived across the entire Hawaiian Archipelago. 18) Kauai Elepaio - Pachycephalidae Chasiempis sclateri The Kauai Elepaio is a small, adaptable monarch flycatcher endemic to the island of Kauai at the subspecies level. Adult males and females have a dark grayish brown crown and black and white underparts with a rusty wash on the upper breast. The bird s name is derived from its primary song which is a shrill whistle given only by males. The Kauai subspecies is endangered. (Personal note: I have yet to be able to distinguish between the three Elepaio subspecies.) 19) Hawaii 'Elepaio - Pachycephalidae Chasiempis sandwichensis The Hawai i Elepaio is endemic to the island of Hawaii. Other species can be found on Oahu and Kauai. The Elepaio is a very curious bird that will sometimes follow people hiking through the forest, following closely and calling. Its call sounds like its name, E-le-pai-o. The Elepaio feeds on flying insects which it chases through the forest, and also gleans insects from tree bark. Three different subspecies of 'Elepaio are found in the forested valleys of Kauai, Oahu, and Hawaii; the Oahu subspecies is listed as endangered. The 'Elepaio is considered the guardian of the Hawaiian canoe makers, perhaps because if an 'Elepaio was foraging for insects in a tree, that tree was not healthy and would not provide solid wood for a canoe. Although the Hawaii and Kauai 'Elepaio populations are fairly stable, habitat protection will be needed to safeguard these birds in the future. 20) Oahu Elepaio - Pachycephalidae Chasiempis ibidus The Oahu Elepaio is a small, adaptable monarch flycatcher endemic to the island of Oahu at the subspecies level. Males and females are dark brown above and white below with variable light brown streaks on breast and conspicuous white wing bars, tail feather tips, and throat. Both sexes have variable amounts of blacking markings, but males tend to have more. 21) Laysan Finch - Fringillidae Telespyzacantans cantans The Laysan Finch is endemic to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and is considered endangered. It is one of four remaining finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreepers, and is closely related to the smaller Nihoa Finch. The Laysan Finch is named for Laysan, the island to which it was endemic on its discovery. The Laysan Finch is a large honeycreeper with a heavy bill. Overall the male has yellow plumage with a whitish belly and a grey neck. The female is duller than the male, with brown streaking. It is almost impossible to confuse the Laysan Finch with any other bird in the field as it is 6

7 the only passerine species found on the few islands on which it lives. It is believed this omnivorous species survived the defoliation of Laysan caused by introduced rabbits by feeding on seeds, carrion, and bird eggs. After many rabbits were removed in 1923, the Laysan finch steadily recovered along with the island's vegetation, which provides its preferred diet of flowers, fruits, roots, stems, and seedlings. 22) Nihoa Finch - Fringillidae Telespiza ultima The Nihoa Finch is one of two endemic bird species of the tiny Hawaiian island Nihoa, the other being the Nihoa Millerbird. The island's population is birds, and it is considered endangered. The Nihoa Finch looks much like the Laysan Finch but is smaller, and less dark. The diet of this bird includes items like sea birds eggs, small arthropods, and the seeds and flowers of some of the native flora. The birds have a yellow throat and the front is streaked with brown; the head and back are brown streaked with black. It measures about 6 inches in length. Nihoa Finches build their nests in small spaces in rocky cliffs about 100 to 800 feet above the sea level. These critically endangered birds nest in rock crevices with an average clutch size of three eggs. Their loud song is canary-like and quite complex. 23) 'I'iwi - Fringillidae Vestiaria coccinea Found nowhere else in the world, the spectacular scarlet-feathered I iwi is the last of the Hawaiian sickle-billed honeycreepers. Before the appearance of man, more than fifty different honeycreepers were known to have existed. Today, fewer than half remain; most of those are endangered or threatened. I iwi are still fairly abundant in the remaining high elevation native koa-ohia forests. The long down-curved bill is a perfect match for the shape of the tubular flowers of many native plants, making 'I iwi important pollinators of native plants. To see an 'I iwi or to hear its loud rusty hinge call is an extraordinary experience that can only be had in a Hawaiian rainforest. The 'I'iwi is a honeycreeper that uses its long, curved bill to eat nectar from flowers, although it also eats some insects. It is found in koa and Ohia forests above 3,500 feet on Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai but is rare on Oahu and Molokai. 'I'iwi are quite territorial and will aggressively defend their established feeding territory against other nectar-eating birds, including other 'I'iwi. Because of their bright coloring, these birds are highly recognizable and are often mentioned in Hawaiian folklore. 24) Io (Hawaiian Hawk) - Accipitridae Buteo solitarius The Hawaiian Hawk measures approximately 16 to 18 inches in length. The female is larger than the male. Two color phases exist: a dark phase (dark brown head, breast, and underwings), and a light color phase (dark head, light breast and light underwings). Feet and legs are yellowish in adults and greenish in juveniles. The Hawaiian hawk was a royal symbol in Hawaiian legend, and it is sometimes called 'Iolani, or Exalted Hawk." Its status is endangered, though it is on the verge of being delisted. The Io is the only hawk native to the Hawaiian Islands and was considered a symbol of Hawaiian royalty because of its lofty flight ability. It tends to hunt from a stationary position but also dives from mid-air to catch prey. It feeds on small birds, rats, insects, and sometimes even worms. Io breed only on the Big Island, but they have been seen occasionally on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Due to focused conservation efforts, the species has had a stable population for about 20 years. 7

8 25) Kiwikiu (Maui Parrotbill) - Fringillidae Pseudonestor xanthophrys A Hawaiian Honeycreeper found only on Maui, the Kiwikiu is endangered with only about 500 remaining in the wild. They once lived in the forests that covered Maui, but are now found only in the remote forests of east Maui. The Kiwikiu feeds on insects and insect larvae that they wrench from under the bark of trees with their powerful hooked upper bill. They lay one to two eggs each year. The fledged young have 6 months or more of parental care. There s a long learning curve to be able to become proficient at finding and using their bill to dig out insect larvae. The Kiwikiu is found in koa and Ohia forests on the slopes of Haleakala Volcano on the island of Maui. It is the only Hawaiian honeycreeper that has a sturdy, parrot-like bill designed to rip bark off dead and dying trees in search of insect larvae to eat. The HEBCP began working with this endangered species in 1997, and is making progress in slowly building a captive flock. Recovery for Kiwikiu in the wild will require establishing new pockets of self-sustaining populations in the higher montane forests of eastern Maui. 26) Koloa Maoli (Hawaiian Duck) - Anatidae Anas wyvilliana The Koloa Maoli, or Hawaiian Duck, is one of two native duck species found in Hawai i, and is closely related to the well-known, but non-native mallard. Adult males and females are mottled brown overall. Males have darker heads and necks, olive bills and bright orange feet. The bills of females are more orange, their feet are dull orange, and they are smaller than males. Koloa Maoli forage in a wide variety of freshwater habitats, including artificial wetlands. Like mallards, Koloa Maoli are opportunistic and their diet includes snails, dragonfly larvae, earthworms, grass seeds, green algae, and seeds/leaf parts of wetland plants. The species is listed as endangered. The Koloa Maoli is one of only three endemic waterfowl species in the Hawaiian Islands today. It was once a common inhabitant of all the main islands and was hunted for sport. Ornithologists began to notice the species' decline in the early 1920s, and it disappeared from all islands but Kauai and Nihau by It has been reintroduced to Oahu, Hawaii, and Maui, but remains listed as critically endangered due to extreme population fluctuations within its extremely small range. 27) Nihoa Millerbird - Muscicapidae Acrocephalus familiaris kingi The Nihoa Millerbird is a subspecies of the Millerbird. It gets its name from its preferred food, the Miller moth. The five-inch long Millerbird has dark, sepia-colored feathers, white belly, and dark beak. Its geographic range is limited to the tiny island of Nihoa in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The Nihoa Millerbird is one of the two endemic birds remaining on Nihoa, the other being the Nihoa Finch. Only about 700 Nihoa Millerbirds persist on the island, making the species seriously endangered. The Nihoa Millerbird is a reclusive species that forages for insects among dense brush. One of only two endemic birds remaining on Nihoa, its single, small population is highly vulnerable to severe droughts and storms, diseases, and introduction of non-native species. 28) Moli (Laysan Albatross) - Diomedeidae Diomedia immutabilis The Laysan Albatross is a large seabird that ranges across the North Pacific. This small (for its family) two-tone gull-like albatross is the second most common seabird in the Hawaiian Islands, with an estimated population of 2.5 million birds, and is currently expanding (or possibly re-expanding) its range to new islands. The Laysan Albatross was first described as Diomedea immutabilis by Lionel Walter Rothschild, in 1893, based on a specimen from Laysan Island. It has been reclassified (I think) 8

9 as Phoebastria immutablis. The Moli is the largest seabird in the Pacific region, reaching nearly 3 feet long with a wingspan up to 80 inches and weighing from 5 to 7 pounds. It spends the summer months feeding at sea about 1,000 miles from the Hawaiian Islands and may stay at sea 5 or more years before coming ashore to nest. It has long wings which allow it to glide very efficiently, and lands on the water only to feed or during exceptionally calm weather. 29) Nene (Hawaiian Goose) - Anatidae Branta sandvicensis The Nene has endured a long struggle against extinction. During the 1940s, this beautiful species was almost wiped out by laws which allowed the birds to be hunted during their winter breeding seasons when the birds were the most vulnerable. By 1957, when the Nene was named as Hawaii s State Bird, rescue efforts were underway. Conservationists began breeding the birds in captivity in hopes of preserving a remnant of the declining population and, someday, successfully re-establishing them in their native habitat. Early programs for returning captive-bred birds to the wild proved difficult, but recent efforts have been very successful. There are now small but stable populations of Nene on the islands of Hawai i, Maui, and Kauai. According to the Hawai i Audubon Society, the Nene, currently on the Federal List of Endangered Species, is threatened today by introduced mongooses and feral dogs and cats which relentlessly prey upon the Nene s eggs and young. Preservation efforts are continuing and the success of the Nene in Hawai i, although not a certainty, is promising. There are now about 800 wild Nene in Hawai i and the numbers are rising with each breeding season. Somewhat similar in appearance to a Canada Goose except only the face, cap, and hindneck are black; and Nene have buff-colored cheeks. The front and sides of the neck appear to have black and white stripes. This is caused by diagonal rows of white feathers with black skin showing through. Males and females have identical plumage. It is also interesting to note that the dusty black feet of this goose are not completely webbed as in all other geese. Usually smaller than the Canada Goose (25? to 43?), the Nene ranges in size from approximately 21" to 26" inches in length. The Nene is an herbivore that grazes and browses on grasses, leaves, shrubs, and flowers. Nene form monogamous pairs that mate for life. They are found in upland lava slopes, grasslands, and agricultural areas on Kauai, Hawaii, and Maui and were recently reintroduced to Molokai. The Nene was nearly extinct in 1951, but a breeding and reintroduction program has successfully reestablished the population. The HEBCP has been working on reintroducing the Nene since 1996, hand raising and reintroducing more than 400 birds. 30) Noio (Hawaiian Black Noddy) - Laridae Anous minutes melanogenys The Noio or Black Noddy is a medium-sized, abundant, and gregarious tern with a pantropical distribution. Seven Noio (black noddy) subspecies are generally recognized, and one is indigenous to Hawaii. Individuals have slender wings, a wedge-shaped tail, and black bill which is slightly decurved. Adult males and females are sooty black with a white cap and have reddish brown legs and feet. Noio (black noddy) generally forage in nearshore waters and feed mainly by dipping the surface from the wing or by making shallow dives, and nest in large, dense colonies that include non-breeding juvenile birds. Established pairs return to the same nest site year after year. Breeding is highly variable and egg-laying occurs year-round. Both parents incubate a single egg, and brood and feed chick. Birds first breed at two to three years of age, and the oldest known individual was 25 years old. The Noio is a seabird from the tern family that measures about one foot in length with a two-foot wingspan. They spend the day at sea feeding, returning to roost on shore at night. Courtship behaviors include head 9

10 bobbing and exchanging fish between mates. The pair then builds a substantial nest in a cave, tree, or on a rocky ledge, which they will reuse year after year. 31) Oma'o (Hawaiian Thrush) - Turdidae Myadestes obscurus The Oma'o is an endemic species of robin-like bird found only on the island of Hawaii. Oma o are closely related to the other endemic thrushes of the Hawaiian Islands, the Kama'o, the Oloma'o, and the Puaiohi. Oma o are found primarily in rainforest in the eastern and southeastern regions of the Big Island. Population estimates approximate 170,000 birds, making it the most common of the Hawaiian Thrushes. It appears to have a stable population, but because the entire population exists on a small range and is endemic to a single island, it is considered vulnerable. The Oma'o is an omnivorous species that forages for fruits and berries in the forest canopy and occasionally searches for insects on the forest floor. It is found in Ohia and koa forests on the Big Island of Hawaii, where it nests in protected tree cavities. Researchers hand raised Oma'o to learn techniques that could be applied to the endangered Puaiohi, and 25 Oma'o were raised and released on the Kona side of the Big Island, where the species had been absent for nearly 100 years. 32) Palila - Fringillidae Laxioides bailleui Found only high on the slopes of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii, the endangered Palila is the last of the finch-billed seed eating honeycreepers found on the main Hawaiian Islands. Before the appearance of people in Hawaii, more than fifty different honeycreepers were known to have existed in the Islands. Today, fewer than half remain, and most of these are endangered or threatened. The Palila is only found in the high elevation, dry Mamane/Naio forest on the slopes of Mauna Kea. This endangered bird feeds almost exclusively on the seeds of Mamane. The Palila feeds by plucking a green seedpod from a branch tip, then, holding the pod in its feet, rips open the pod with its powerful bill, exposing the succulent seeds that are then eaten. The Palila is so closely tied to the mamane forest that it has come to represent the environmental issues of habitat destruction in the area. Because the Palila has to compete with domestic goats, sheep, and cattle for the mamane, the wild population is declining. The HEBCP first raised this species in 1996 and began reintroductions in 2003, releasing 28 birds to date. 33) Puaiohi (Kauai Thrush) - Muscicapidae Myadestes palmeri A small, plain bird, with pink-tan legs and feet, the Puaiohi appears uniformly brownish gray. It lives in dense undergrowth. The Puaiohi has always been considered rare, since its description and classification more than 100 years ago, and today it is listed as endangered. There are about 500 birds still living in the Alaka'i Wilderness Preserve on Kauai, which has been considered the last stronghold of native Hawaiian species. The Puaiohi is the only remaining native fruit-eater on Kauai and probably plays a significant role in seed dispersal. The San Diego Zoo began raising Puaiohi in 1996, and since 1999, 200 birds have been released back to the Alaka'i preserve. They have demonstrated long-term survival and produced offspring for several years. 34) Pueo (Hawaiian Short Eared Owl) - Strigidae Asio flammeus sandwichensis Found nowhere else in the world, the Pueo, or Hawaiian short-eared owl can be seen soaring silently over the grasslands of Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Unlike many other owls, it hunts during the day, usually at dusk and dawn but sometimes at mid-day. Before the introduction of mice and rats, 10

11 the Pueo was a primary predator of native birds. The Pueo was worshipped as a god and revered as a guardian spirit by the ancient Hawaiians. Males perform elaborate aerial displays known as sky dancing to draw the attention of prospective mates. 35) Ua'u (Hawaiian Petrel) - Procellariidae Pterodroma sandvichensis The Ua u is a large, dark grey-brown and white petrel that is endemic to Hawaii; it is an endangered species. The birds nest in burrows or rock crevices from March to October. The female lays one white egg. When the chick hatches, the parents go out to sea and feed during the day, returning only at night. They pass their food on to the chicks by means of regurgitation. It is mostly restricted to Haleakala crater on Maui. The Ua'u is a Pacific seabird that feeds on fish and squid. Human exploitation and predation by introduced species such as dogs, cats, and mongoose wiped out almost the entire Hawaii population in the 1930s. Removal of non-native species and recent habitat protection have helped improve breeding success in the Haleakala Crater on Maui, an important nesting site. Annotated List of Extinct Endemic Birds of Hawaii The list includes only those in my collection of Marian Berger's work. 1) Akialoa - Fringillidae Hemignathus obscurus The Akialoa was a beautiful bird, featured often in Marian's work, and is my favorite among the Hawaiian endemic bird species. The last recorder sighting of an Akialoa was in There were several subspecies (and perhaps closely related species). 2) Bishop s O o Mohoidae Mojo bishopi The Molokai O'o or Bishop's O'o is a member of the extinct genus of Mojo within the extinct family Mohoidae. Believed extinct since ) Nukupu u Fringillidae Hemignathus lucidus Closely related to the Akialoa, the Nukupu u became extinct in the late 1990 s (including all subspecies). 4) 'O'o - Mohoidae Moho nobilis The last sighting of this once widespread and prolific bird was in ) O u Fringillidae Psittirostra psittacea The O u has not been sighted since 1989, and is presumed likely extinct. 6) Po'o-uli - Fringillidae Melamprosops phaeosoma It is believed the Po-'o-uli became extinct in From Richard Shirley s website: 11