What birds of prey can you discover in Hawaii?
This query is widespread, each for birders and non-birders alike. Raptors are fashionable animals that are likely to catch individuals’s curiosity greater than most different species. Whereas there aren’t many birds of prey in Hawaii, those that do dwell listed here are fascinating.
There’s even one species that ONLY lives on the Hawaiian Islands. 🙂
#1. Hawaiian Quick-eared Owl
- Asio flammeus sandwichensis
- Subspecies endemic to Hawaii
- Discovered on Maui, Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, and the Large Island.
- Has massive eyes ringed with black, set in a spherical face.
- Its plumage is cream, mottled with tawny and darkish brown.
Quick-eared Owls In Hawaii:
The power of Quick-eared owls to journey lengthy distances implies that they’ve discovered their approach to many distant places. Within the Hawaiian archipelago, Quick-eared Owls may be noticed on all of the bigger islands. There, they dwell in forest and grassland habitats.
The controversy continues on whether or not these birds of prey must be thought-about 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 could have led to the settling of Quick-eared owls within the archipelago shortly after.
The Quick-eared owl is now an integral a part of Hawaiian fauna and tradition. The native inhabitants developed into an endemic subspecies generally known as the Hawaiian Quick-eared owl or the Pueo (Asio flammeus sandwichensis).
Sadly, the variety of these raptors is now declining in Hawaii. The causes embody 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 Large 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 the planet! In some temperate areas, Barn owls can sometimes be noticed looking within the daytime. This adaptive conduct could assist them overcome meals shortage. In tropical areas, like Hawaii, the place meals is all the time 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 influence 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 Quick-eared owl and different raptors hunt within the daytime. Native fauna has not tailored to the presence of night-time aerial predators and is definitely 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 night time. Barn owls are the first suspects. Quite a few different native birds, together with Hawaiian geese and stilts, are recognized to have fallen prey to Barn owls (Strohecker, 2014).
#3. Hawaiian Hawk
- Buteo solitarius
- NATIVE to Hawaii
- Solely discovered on the Large Island of Hawaii.
- Hawaiian hawks are effectively camouflaged by bark-brown plumage.
- Relying on the colour section, they might 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 skill to soar increased 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 (‘Io).
Earlier than the introduction of invasive mammal species to the ecosystem, the Hawaiian hawk most certainly consumed small birds. In fashionable occasions, the hawk additionally preys upon rats, mice, and sport chook species.
Hawaiian Hawk in Hawaii:
Traditionally, Hawaiian hawks might be seen on many islands within the Hawaiian archipelago. These days, they solely breed on the Large Island.
These birds of prey are primarily threatened by habitat loss as a result of deforestation in Hawaii. Timber are minimize 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 choice for nesting within the native Ohia tree. Sadly, a fungus (Ceratocystis fimbriate) is killing Ohia bushes throughout the Island. This destruction immediately 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 occasions, Hawaiian hawks face direct threats from people, reminiscent of taking pictures and poisoning. Unintentional site visitors collisions are additionally a big reason behind mortality for hawk species, and the Hawaiian hawk is not any exception.
Do you need to study MORE birds in Hawaii?
Take a look at 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!
