This list of birds of Hawaii is a comprehensive listing of all the bird species seen naturally in the U.S. state of Hawaii as determined by Robert L. and Peter Pyle of the Bishop Museum, Honolulu, and modified by subsequent taxonomic changes.
The scope of this list encompasses the entire Hawaiian Islands chain, from Kure Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the north, to the "Big Island" of Hawaii to the south. The list contains 337 species. Of them, 64 are or were endemic to the islands, 130 are vagrants and 52 were introduced by humans. Thirty-three of the 64 endemic species are extinct and two formerly established introduced species were extirpated. The list does not include introduced species that have not become established. An additional vagrant species has been added from another source.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that native Hawaiian spelling is used where appropriate and the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
The following codes define the distribution and relative abundance of species on this list:
(En) Endemic - a species either entirely confined to the Hawaiian Islands in its natural distribution, or a species whose breeding range is entirely confined to the Hawaiian Islands (V) Vagrant - a visitor that does not occur regularly (Xt) Extinct - "extinct or almost certainly extinct" per Pyle and Pyle (xd) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Hawaii, but other populations still exist elsewhere (I) Introduced - established solely as result of human intervention with "a viable breeding population for at least 15 years" per Pyle and Pyle
Population status symbols are those of the Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Except for endemic species, the symbols apply to the species' worldwide status, not their status solely in Hawaii or the status of listed Hawaiian subspecies. The symbols and their meanings, in increasing order of peril, are:
+ Conservation status codes = least concern = near threatened = vulnerable = endangered = critically endangered = extinct in the wild = extinct
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Emperor goose, Anser canagica (V) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (V) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (V) Brant, Branta bernicla Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis (V) Nene, Branta sandvicensis (En) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (V) Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (V) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (V) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata (V) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Laysan duck, Anas laysanensis (En) Hawaiian duck, Anas wyvilliana (En) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (V) Redhead, Aythya americana (V) Common pochard, Aythya ferina (V) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (V) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (V) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (V) Black scoter, Melanitta americana (V) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (V) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (V) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (V) Common merganser, Mergus merganser (V) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (V) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (V)
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
California quail, Callipepla californica (I) Gambel's quail, Callipepla gambelii (I)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (I) Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Kalij pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos (I) Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (I) Gray francolin, Ortygornis pondicerianus (I) Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus (I) Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus (I) Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica (I) Erckel's francolin, Pternistis erckelii (I)
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (V) Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (V) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (V)
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon-like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus (I)
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis (I) Zebra dove, Geopelia striata (I) Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (I)
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (V) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (V)
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (V)
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Mariana swiftlet, Aerodramus bartschi (I) Fork-tailed swift, Apus pacificus (V)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Sora, Porzana carolina (V) Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata Hawaiian common gallinule, G. g. sandvicensis Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai (En) Laysan rail, Porzana palmeri (Xt) Hawaiian rail, Porzana sandwichensis (Xt)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (V)
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus (V) (Hawaiian) black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (V)
Lapwings and plovers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (V) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (V) Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (V) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (V)
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Bristle-thighed curlew, Numenius tahitiensis Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis (V) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (V) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (V) Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (V) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus (V) Surfbird, Calidris virgata (V) Ruff, Calidris pugnax Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (V) Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (V) Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta (V) Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (V) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (V) Little stint, Calidris minuta (V) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (V) Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (V) Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (V) Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (V) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus Pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura (V) Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago (V) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (V) Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos (V) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (V) Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (V) Gray-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes (V) Wandering tattler, Tringa incana Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes Willet, Tringa semipalmata (V) Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (V) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (V) Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola (V) Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis (V) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (V) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (V) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae