What birds of prey can you discover in Hawaii?
This query is frequent, each for birders and non-birders alike. Raptors are standard animals that are inclined to catch individuals’s curiosity greater than most different species. Whereas there usually are not many birds of prey in Hawaii, those that do reside listed here are fascinating.
There may be even one species that ONLY lives on the Hawaiian Islands. 🙂
#1. Hawaiian Brief-eared Owl
- Asio flammeus sandwichensis
- Subspecies endemic to Hawaii
- Discovered on Maui, Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, and the Huge Island.
- Has massive eyes ringed with black, set in a spherical face.
- Its plumage is cream, mottled with tawny and darkish brown.
Brief-eared Owls In Hawaii:
The flexibility of Brief-eared owls to journey lengthy distances signifies that they’ve discovered their technique to many distant areas. Within the Hawaiian archipelago, Brief-eared Owls may be noticed on all of the bigger islands. There, they reside in forest and grassland habitats.
The controversy continues on whether or not these birds of prey needs to be thought of native to Hawaii. Their introduction to the islands was influenced by prehistoric people, and this occurred pretty just lately in evolutionary phrases.
When Polynesian settlers arrived on the islands, they introduced the Polynesian rat with them. This new meals supply might have led to the settling of Brief-eared owls within the archipelago shortly after.
The Brief-eared owl is now an integral a part of Hawaiian fauna and tradition. The native inhabitants advanced into an endemic subspecies often called the Hawaiian Brief-eared owl or the Pueo (Asio flammeus sandwichensis).
Sadly, the variety of these raptors is now declining in Hawaii. The causes embrace illness, automobile collision, habitat loss, and predation of their ground-nesting hatchlings by invasive species.
#2. Barn Owl
- Tyto alba
- Not native to Hawaii
- Discovered on Maui, Kauai, Oahu, and the Huge Island.
- Barn owls have white plumage on their bellies and underwings.
- They’ve golden-brown plumage over their backs and wings.
- Their small faces are white disks with black eyes.
Barn owls are essentially the most widespread species of any land chook on this planet! In some temperate areas, Barn owls can sometimes be noticed searching within the daytime. This adaptive conduct might assist them overcome meals shortage. In tropical areas, like Hawaii, the place meals is at all times plentiful, Barn owls are nocturnal.
Barn Owls In Hawaii:
Barn owls have been deliberately launched to Hawaii by the Board of Agriculture within the hope of controlling the rat inhabitants. Within the late fifties, they launched 86 barn owls on Hawaii Island, Oahu, Molokai, and Kauai. These days, these birds of prey may be noticed on most islands within the Hawaiian archipelago.
Sadly, introducing these birds of prey didn’t obtain the specified impression throughout Hawaii. Moreover, Barn owls have negatively impacted native species.
That is in all probability as a result of, in Hawaii, Barn owls are nocturnal hunters. Conversely, the endemic Brief-eared owl and different raptors hunt within the daytime. Native fauna has not tailored to the presence of night-time aerial predators and is well preyed upon.
One instance is the Hawaiian petrel, a local Hawaiian seabird that nests on the bottom. Conservation employees have reported discovering petrels killed by raptors through the evening. Barn owls are the first suspects. Quite a few different native birds, together with Hawaiian geese and stilts, are identified to have fallen prey to Barn owls (Strohecker, 2014).
#3. Hawaiian Hawk
- Buteo solitarius
- NATIVE to Hawaii
- Solely discovered on the Huge Island of Hawaii.
- Hawaiian hawks are nicely camouflaged by bark-brown plumage.
- Relying on the colour section, they could have brown or cream chests.
- They’ve lengthy, grey, hooked beaks.
These birds of prey are ONLY discovered on the Hawaiian Islands!
Hawaiian hawks are pretty massive birds of prey, as much as 18 in (45cm) lengthy. Their potential to soar larger than another Hawaiian chook led them to be traditionally related to royalty. They’ve a loud, screeching name that’s mentioned to sound just like their Hawaiian title (‘’o).
Earlier than the introduction of invasive mammal species to the ecosystem, the Hawaiian hawk more than likely ate up small birds. In fashionable instances, the hawk additionally preys upon rats, mice, and sport chook species.
Hawaiian Hawk in Hawaii:
Traditionally, Hawaiian hawks may very well be seen on many islands within the Hawaiian archipelago. These days, they solely breed on the Huge Island.
These birds of prey are primarily threatened by habitat loss as a consequence of deforestation in Hawaii. Timber are reduce all the way down to make timber or to clear house for agriculture or city enlargement. Invasive species, notably crops and deer, additionally trigger extreme harm to the forest habitat.
Moreover, Hawaiian hawks present a robust desire for nesting within the native Ohia tree. Sadly, a fungus (Ceratocystis fimbriate) is killing Ohia timber throughout the Island. This destruction straight impacts habitat availability for the Hawaiian hawk.
Traditionally, Hawaiian hawks have been revered in Hawaiian tradition. Subsequently, killing or harming the hawks was forbidden.
Sadly, in fashionable instances, Hawaiian hawks face direct threats from people, equivalent to capturing and poisoning. Unintentional site visitors collisions are additionally a major reason behind mortality for hawk species, and the Hawaiian hawk is not any exception.
Do you need to study MORE birds in Hawaii?
Try these ID Guides. Each is restricted to birds discovered right here!
Which of those birds of prey have you ever seen earlier than in Hawaii?
Depart a remark beneath!
