ANNOTATED
LIST OF HAWAI'I'S REGULAR NON-BREEDING MIGRANTSANNOTATED
LIST OF HAWAI'I'S REGULAR NON-BREEDING MIGRANTS
This annotated list details the non-breeding migrants and regular vagrants that occur in Hawai'i. By their
very nature migrants and vagrants may turn up anywhere and so this is more a guide to where and when one might
reasonably expect to see a certain species, or where one should look for a specific species - it is not intended
as a detailed analysis to migrant sightings and does not include as much detail as the Annotated List of Hawai'i's Breeding Birds and
the Sightings Archive.
Many of the locations dealt with in the Where to Watch Birds in Hawai'i section have a list of migrants and vagrants
included in their texts and these should also be consulted. Extreme vagrants are not included below as these species
are either unlikely to be encountered or do not occur regularly enough at one location to give any specific details.
The highlighted seasons for each species indicate the most likely time of year that the
species will be encountered, although of course any of the species could appear during different times.
As might be expected most migrants and vagrants recorded on a regular basis in Hawai'i are those species that can survive the long journey best, such as Wildfowl and Shorebirds. Species such as Passerines are not well suited to flying long distances over open ocean and so are recorded rarely and only in small numbers, many having occurred only once. Species are in taxonomic order. All photographs by Christian Melgar unless otherwise stated. For a complete list of the birds which have occurred in the State go to the Hawai'i State Bird List.
The following information is included for each species at the head of each account:
Status: Winter Visitor, Summer Visitor, Migrant, etc.
Time of Occurrence: e.g. Spring, Fall, Winter, Summer
Habitat Occurrence: e.g. Pelagic, Open Country, Upland Forest.
FORMS OF CANADA AND CACKLING GOOSE Cackling Goose Group - Branta hutchinsii
DISTINCT FORM
COMMON NAME
BREEDING LOCATION
WINTERING LOCATION
IDENTIFICATION FEATURES
Canada Goose Group - Branta canadensis
DISTINCT FORM
COMMON NAME
BREEDING LOCATION
WINTERING LOCATION
IDENTIFICATION FEATURES
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CACKLING GOOSE (Branta hutchinsii)
Winter visitor
Winter
Wetland
The forms occurring in Hawai'i as migrants are small geese of the former
Canada Goose complex (see Auk 2004), and are similar in size to Nene. Adults have brown bodies with pale and dark feather edgings on the back and wings and are pale
brown-buff below. Undertail coverts are white. Tail is white with a black terminal band. The head and neck are
black with a striking white chin patch, which extends up onto the cheeks. Bare parts are dark. Juveniles are similar but tend to have paler feather
edges, and more dusky faces. (25-30 inches) Calls: Low honking, often several notes given consecutively.
The most regularly recorded migrant
Goose species in Hawai'i is the Cackling Goose (mainly minima
and hutchinsii). Birds of several of the smaller
forms have been recorded in the State on all the Main Islands
mainly during the winter months, with birds arriving between October and December and departing as late as May.
Locations such as Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i; James Campbell NWR, O'ahu; Kealia Pond, Maui
and the "Hilo" Ponds on the Big Island regularly have birds in the winter. Also at the Hilo
Ponds there is often at least one bird present throughout the year, this may have been a genuine migrant that was
injured or unable to return to its nesting grounds and decided to stay and now enjoys the hospitality of visitors
who come to the park to feed bread to the (other) tame wildfowl. Occasionally some birds of the larger races, Canada
Goose (Branta canadensis) are recorded but these
are more likely to be introductions or escapes, rather than true migrants. Often two or three Canada Geese will
be present together, rather than just singletons.
Eleven distinct forms of Canada and Cackling Goose are generally recognised
(Delcour 1954). Below are shown all forms with the forms which have or might occur in Hawai'i indicated. Note that
since 2004 all the smaller races are now encompassed under Branta hutchinsii - Cackling Goose and the larger races are now encompassed under Canada Goose Branta canadensis (AOU 2004).
Those marked with *
have been recorded from Pacific Islands (Hawai'i and southwards).
taverneri
Taverner's (or Alaskan) Cackling Goose
From the Mackenzie River westwards.
Western seaboard of USA from Washington to northern California.
Smaller and darker than Lesser with more compact squarer- looking head and bill. Often shows dark
throat line.
leucopareia*
Aleutian Cackling Goose
Some Aleutian Islands.
Central California.
Very small with tiny deep-based bill. Slightly paler than other western forms. Usually a fairly
prominent neck-ring.
Not yet assigned
Semidi Islands Cackling Goose
Tiny population (~125 birds) discovered in 1979 on Kiliktagik Island in the Semidi Islands (Hatch
and Hatch 1983).
The Semidi birds winter near Pacific City, Tillamook County, Oregon (Martin et al 1982). Unfortunately
many goslings have deformities (inbreeding or pollution?) and this may be a limiting factor on the population.
Morphometrically intermediate between Aleutian and Taverner's Canada geese, these may constitute
a distinct population or subspecies.
occidentalis*
Dusky CacklingGoose
Coastal southern Alaska.
Vancouver and Oregon.
Darker and smaller than fulva, with shorter &
deeper bill and usually lacks neck-ring.
minima*
Cackling Goose
Coastal western Alaska.
Interior California south to northern Mexico.
Smallest form with short neck and tiny bill. Darkest form of all - most are dark-breasted, but some
pale. Can exhibit in ideal conditions, a smooth waxy-looking lilac-tinged body plumage.
hutchinsii
Richardson's (or Baffin Island) Cackling
Goose
Arctic Canada.
Gulf coast of Texas and Mexico.
Smallest of the pale forms, usually with very pale breast and small bill, although some show dark
breasts.
asiatica
Bering Canada Goose
Extinct. Some sources list that
it was found only on Bering Island in the Russian Commander Islands where as others include the Rat and Kurile
Islands.
Most or all wintered in Japan (Hokkaido and Honshu) (Kuroda 1939). The last credible observation
is from Japan in 1929, although there were rumors of birds nesting on Buldir Island in 1966.
Another small subspecies. Extinction attibuted to hunting and introduction of rats to nesting islands.
True taxonomic status uncertain and perhaps just a population within leucopareia.
Those marked with *
have been recorded from Pacific Islands (Hawai'i and southwards).
canadensis*
Atlantic (or Eastern) Canada Goose
This is the common subspecies of eastern North America. Widespread.
This is the common subspecies of eastern North America. Widespread. Introduced
to Europe.
Very large, long-necked, pale breast and underparts, large billed.
interior
Todd's (or
Interior, Central or Hudson Bay)
Canada Goose
The commonest form in NE North America. Common in eastern and central USA. Range expanding from
eastern Hudson Bay to Greenland and northeast Manitoba.
Hudson Bay and Greenland birds winter in Northeastern seaboard of North America. Manitoba birds
winter in Texas.
Can approach size of nominate birds. Long snake-like neck and long, shallow bill. Typically has
a pale brown breast, although can show a darker breast and more uniform upperparts.
maxima
Giant Canada Goose
Was thought to be extinct but rediscovered in 1960s by Harold C. Hanson. Giant Canadas were restored
to their former range in the Mississippi and Central flyways and are now said to breed in all states east of the
Mississippi River.
Wintering areas are generally the same as breeding areas.
This is the largest goose in the complex, about 14 to 15 lbs.; rather pale overall, especially on
the underparts; white on cheeks extends somewhat farther up on sides of head than in canadensis. The neck is very
long, it rarely has a white collar, and the bill is very large. Light grey or whitish breast, often with a characteristic
white spot or band on the forehead separating the black crown from a band of black feathering above the bill.
parvipes
Lesser (or Athabasca) Canada Goose
Arctic Canada west to eastern Alaska.
Southern USA, chiefly interior California, but also east to Gulf coast and south into Mexico.
Small-medium sized. Long bodied, proportionately shorter necked. Neck can be kinked. Medium bill.
Round headed.
moffiti
Moffit's (Great
Basin or Western) Canada Goose
Found mostly west of the Rockies. Common in Utah and accounts for most or all breeders.
Uncommon migrant to central and eastern Texas, some wintering on Gulf coast.
This subspecies is only slightly smaller than maxima, about 8 to 14 lbs.; and is similar in general
coloration; may have white markings on forehead and, in intermountain birds, a dark chinstrap. It is long-necked,
and often has a whitish collar.
fulva
Vancouver (or Queen
Charlotte) Canada Goose
Southeast Alaska and British Columbia where most remain year-round.
Winters in Washington and Oregon with many remaining on the summer grounds.
Similar but slightly larger than occidentalis about 6 to 13 lbs, has a relatively small bill. Darker
breast than Moffitt's (Western). Generally don’t have collars.
 BLACK BRANT (Branta
bernicla nigricans)Winter visitor Winter; Spring; Fall Coastal; Wetland Black Brant adults are dark brown-black on the upperparts and dark gray-black below except for white undertail coverts and a white flank flash. The head and neck are black except for a broken white collar which meets at the front. Bare parts are black. Immatures are like adults but are more brownish, usually lack the neck collar and have pale fringes to wing feathers. usually found near or on the coast, rather than inland sites. (25 inches) Calls: Low honking, shorter and more nasal than Canada Goose - gurgling "r-rot" or "rhut". Brent Geese or Brants are less regular than Canadas but show up fairly frequently, also during the winter months and during migration in Spring and Fall. They tend to occur at the same places as listed for Canada Geese, but are also often recorded along the shoreline, especially where there are exposed reef areas where they will graze for seaweed. Kinikini Ditch at the Pacific Missile facility on Kaua'i is a good spot to look, three birds were present during the winter of 1999/2000. Birds recorded so far have all been assigned to the race nigricans or Black Brant, which originates in North America, but some of the other paler races could conceivably occur as well. |
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EURASIAN WIGEON (Anas
penelope)
Winter visitor
Winter; Spring; Fall
Wetland
Drake has pale gray body with pinky
breast and white rear flank and black undertail. Tail is gray. Upperparts are gray or gray-brown. Head is rich
brown with pale creamy forehead. Some males exhibit slightly green eye patch. Bill is blue. Females are brown with gray bill. Head is usually noticeably
brown, cf. American Wigeon. In flight males show white forewing patch and green speculum. Female in flight is similar to male but far duller colors. White belly in both sexes. Axillaries are gray in both sexes, a definitive identification feature, although
in strong light may appear very pale. (20 inches) Calls: Loud high-pitched whistle.
A regular winter visitor and passage migrant which is recorded most years in very
small numbers. Birds are not surprisingly seen at many of the major wetland sites in the Main
Islands such as Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i; James Campbell
NWR, O'ahu; Kealia and Kanaha Ponds, Maui and Aimakapa Pond and the Hilo Ponds on the Big Island. Birds are often found associating with the commoner American Wigeon, look for the axillary color
in non-adult males to help distinguish Eurasian from American. Birds are also recorded fairly regularly at the
water catchment on Midway.
 AMERICAN WIGEON (Anas americana)Winter visitor Winter; Spring; Fall Wetland Like Eurasian Wigeon is size and shape. Drakes have brownish body with pink tinge to breast and flanks. White belly and rear flanks. Black undertail. Head is gray with very fine streaking. Forehead is creamy-white and very pale. Green eye and cheek patch extending to nape. In flight shows similar pattern to male Eurasian Wigeon. Female like female Eurasian wigeon but head is grayish. Axillaries in both sexes are white, distinguishing this species easily from Eurasian. (19 inches) Calls: Drake whistles, hen quacks. The more regular and numerous of the two Wigeon species which visit Hawai'i, mainly during winter can often be seen on all the Main Islands at all the sites mentioned for Eurasian Wigeon. Birds generally arrive in October and remain until March or April, and sometimes into May and can sometimes be observed in quite large flocks. The birds have a fondness for short supple grass and so can often be found grazing on dykes and grassy edges to ponds at locations such as Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i and Waiakea Pond, Hilo on the Big Island. Identification features of female American and Eurasian Wigeon.
|
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MALLARD (Anas
platyrhynchos)
Winter visitor
Winter
Wetland
Drakes of true migrants are pale
gray with browner wing tips and black undertail coverts. The tail is pale, although curly black central feathers
are usually present. Breast is deep brown. Head is iridescent green with a white collar on the neck. Bill is yellow
or yellowy-green. Legs are orange. Speculum is purple-blue bordered by narrow white. Females are mottled brown with plainish brown faces, slight dark eye-stripe, dark bill and orange
legs. Speculum as males. Feral birds may have other colors mixed in and be considerably larger than wild birds.
(23 inches) Calls: Drake gives
loud, laughing "quack-quack-quack-quack-quack". Hen gives low quack.
The familiar Mallard is recorded occasionally as a true migrant and winter visitor,
but birds are often under suspicion as feral birds or escapes from captivity. Apparent wild birds have been recorded
at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i; Kealia Pond, Maui and possibly at refuges on O'ahu, although the large feral population there puts many records in the uncountable category. Birds
seen on Kaua'i and in the North
West Chain are more likely to be genuine migrants as these islands either have
no or very few captive or feral individuals. Birds of genuine origin will often be far shyer than their locally
originated cousins.
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BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas
discors)
Winter visitor
Winter (Has also nested)
Wetland
Drake is rich brown with black
spotting on the body with white rear body and black undertail. Head is blue with distinct white facial crescent
on the fore-face. Bill is black and legs are pale. Female is brownish with a grayish cast and with a slightly paler head which exhibits a darker
eye-stripe and pale loral spot. In both sexes the bill is quite long and slender and the forewing is blue and the
speculum is green. (15.5 inches) Calls: Quacks,
quieter and less raucous than Mallard, nearer to Pintail.
Although the species has nested in Hawai'i (a few birds at Aimakapa
Pond, Hawai'i
in the 1980s/1990s), the Blue-winged Teal is more often recorded as a winter migrant and has been recorded on all
the Main Islands as well as at Midway. The species is usually encountered in pairs or single
birds, but occasionally small flocks might form. Unsurprisingly locations such as Hanalei
NWR, Kaua'i;
Pearl Harbor NWR, O'ahu; Kealia Pond, Maui and ponds both in Kona and Hilo on the Big Island are frequently visited. The males are usually easily
identified but some females may be a bit trickier but the combination of small size, longish bill and pronounced
loral spot are useful indicators of the species.
 CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera)Winter visitor Winter Wetland Same shape as Blue-winged Teal. Drake is deep chestnut in full plumage, with upperpart feathers bordered buff or golden. Wing pattern like Blue-winged Teal. Female like female Blue-winged Teal but is warmer brown and has less distinct facial pattern and less obvious loral spot. Both sexes have slender bill, which is usually fractionally longer than Blue-winged. (16 inches) Calls: Like Blue-winged Teal. Recorded far less frequently than Blue-winged Teal, this closely related species is an uncommon winter visitor usually in only ones or twos. Like the Blue-winged Teal the species could appear at any of the "usual" sites, but can also be found in smaller backwaters and even ditches. This species appears to be a little shyer than the Blue-winged and will readily take to cover or swim into dense vegetation. as with the former species the males pose little identification problem, but females can easily be mistaken for other species, especially Blue-wings. Female Cinnamons tend to have longer bills, more pronounced supercilium and more warmly colored plumage, especially on the breast. |
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NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
Winter visitor
Winter; Spring; Fall
Wetland
Drakes have white breasts, chestnut
flanks and black undertails. Upperparts are black, white and brown. Head is deep green with a yellow eye and dark
spatulate bill. Females are
brown with dark mottling and brown spatulate bill. Immature males show dark grayish head with whitish facial crescent reminiscent of Blue winged Teal drake,
but is never as tidy as that species and of course has distinctive bill shape. Both sexes show blue fore-wing and
green speculum. (19 inches) Calls:
Drakes make a croaking sound "took-took...took-took". Hens call similar but a wheezy " kerr-aesh"
and a short hoarse quacking.
Hawaiian called this species KOLOA MOHA, "bright Duck" or "shiny duck".
The second most numerous migrant duck species in Hawai'i. Birds can be found between September and May at all the sites listed
under Northern Pintail, but as with that species may also be recorded on almost any body of water. Birds are occasionally
recorded during the summer months, and probably mainly relate to sick or injured birds. Birds are frequently recorded
at Midway during the winter months as well as
occasionally during spring and fall.
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NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
Winter visitor
Winter; Spring; Fall
Wetland
Drakes are very distinctive with
slender necks, pale gray to pinky-gray underparts, gray upperparts, bright white breast and neck and brown head.
White from neck sides extends thinly up to rear cheeks. Tail in adult male is long and dark with white sides. Scapulars
are gray and overhang rear body. Undertail black and rear flanks white. Quite long, slender bluish bill. Female same elegant shape as male but pale brown
color with darker feather centers above. Long slim neck with gray bill. Tail feathers pointed but not as long as
males. Speculum of both sexes is brown-green with white rear border. (Male 26 inches, Female 20 inches)
Calls: Usually silent but Drakes
may give a double whistle ""krru", and Hens a quack " "cr-r-r-rah".
The Hawaiians called this species KOLOA MAPU, which translates as "wind-blown" Duck. Also mapu means to rise or float off like a cloud, presumably referring to large flocks taking off.
This species and the Northern Shoveler are the two most frequently recorded migrant duck species recorded in Hawai'i,
although the Northern Pintail is often seen in larger numbers. Birds are present between late September and late April, although most
depart during March. As with all the migrant wildfowl species in Hawai'i birds tend to congregate at the same sites
and these tend to be the less disturbed areas. All the sites mentioned for other Duck species usually hold good
numbers, although Kaua'i often seems to have less than the other islands during the winter but has increased numbers
during the Spring, presumably when birds start congregating together prior to migration. Ni'ihau probably has a
large winter population on its shallow lakes and these also then pass through the Main
Islands during migration. Birds are regularly seen in small numbers on Midway.
| GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas
carolinensis) Winter visitor Winter; Spring; Fall Wetland Drake is gray with brownish tinges above. Breast is pale buff with black spots. Undertail is yellowy bordered by black. Foreflank has obvious vertical white stripe. Head is chestnut with large green eye patch extending to nape. Speculum is green and black. Bare parts dark gray. Female is brownish with darker spots and streaks and usually plain face with only a hint of a supercilium and dark eye-stripe. Speculum as males but duller. See below for in-depth identification features. (14.5 inches) Calls: Drake has high pitched two-note whistle "treel". Female high-pitched nasal quack. This small duck is a regular winter visitor to Hawai'i and can be seen on almost any body of water which has suitable vegetation for hiding in. The popular sites such as Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i; James Campbell NWR and Pearl Harbor NWR, O'ahu; Kealia Pond, Maui and Aimakapa Pond, Hawai'i are all regularly visited by the species, however this is also one of the more likely species to be encountered on any small body of water - from a ditch or puddle to a large reservoir. The species seemed to be particularly fond of sugar cane settling ponds, but with the demise of the sugar cane industry and resultant drying of the settling ponds, the species has been forced back into the more "regular and obvious" locations cited. Quite large congregations of the species are sometimes noted. The Eurasian species Eurasian Teal Anas crecca is recorded very occasionally and a few hybrids between crecca and carolinensis have also been observed. For a full article on identification click here. Identification features of Green-winged and Eurasian Teals.
|
| EURASIAN TEAL (Anas
crecca) Very Scarce Winter visitor/ Vagrant Winter; Spring; Fall Wetland Drake is similar to Green-winged Teal and is gray with brownish tinges above. Breast is pale buff with black spots. Undertail is yellowy bordered by black. Foreflank has NO obvious vertical white stripe as in Green-winged Teal but has horizontal white stripe along wing. Head is chestnut with large green eye patch extending to nape with a slightly less well-marked buff border to the green than in Green-winged Teal. Speculum is green and black. Bare parts dark gray. Female is very similar to female Green-winged Teal and is brownish with darker spots and streaks and usually plain face with only a hint of a supercilium and dark eye-stripe. Speculum as males but duller. See below for in-depth identification features. (14.5 inches) Calls: Drake has high pitched two-note whistle "treel". Female high-pitched nasal quack. This small duck is an irregular and uncommon winter visitor to Hawai'i and is much scarcer than Green-winged Teal and could be encountered on almost any body of water which has suitable vegetation for hiding in. The popular sites such as Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i; James Campbell NWR and Pearl Harbor NWR, O'ahu; Kealia Pond, Maui and Aimakapa Pond, Hawai'i are all regularly visited by the species, however this is also one of the more likely species to be encountered on any small body of water - from a ditch or puddle to a large reservoir. As with the previous this species seemed to be particularly fond of sugar cane settling ponds, but with the demise of the sugar cane industry and resultant drying of the settling ponds, the species has been forced back into the more "regular and obvious" locations cited. Very occasionally a few hybrids between crecca and carolinensis have been observed. For a full article on identification click here and also see table of identification in the Green-winged Teal species account above. |
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CANVASBACK (Aythya valisineria)
Winter visitor
Winter
Wetland
Drakes are pale gray with black
breasts and undertail and tails. The head is rich chestnut. The eye is red. The black bill is a long and slender
"ski-slope" shape. In flight the wing is gray with darker primaries. Females are pale brown with slightly darker heads and very pale and indistinct eye-ring. Size
and bill shape are best id. features. (21 inches)
Calls: Usually silent in Hawai'i.
Voice similar to Common pochard with a wheezy and nasal note or "ki-ki-ki-ki".
An irregular winter migrant in small numbers, usually singles or pairs. As would be
expected of a diving/bay duck the species is often recorded on deeper and larger bodies of water than the dabbling
ducks. Birds have been observed at Hanalei NWR,
Kaua'i; Kealia Pond, Maui; Aimakapa Pond and Kona Sewage Treatment Plant and the Hilo Ponds, Hawai'i.
Although the species is not commonly recorded in the State it is a species which should be looked for, especially
on the larger reservoirs which often appear devoid of birdlife.
 RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris)Winter visitor Winter Wetland Drake has gray sides to body, black breast and undertail and back. Head is dark purple-black. Bill is distinctive with black tip, white sub-terminal band, gray sub-base and narrow white base. Female is brown but exhibits white eye-ring and spectacle ine. Bill is similar to males but duller and lacks white base. Both sexes show black upperwing with gray rear edge. (17 inches) Calls: Voice similar to Tufted Duck and other Aythya species. A common winter visitor in varying numbers each year. Birds can be found at many of the States wetlands and reservoirs, such as Wailua Reservoir on Kaua'i; Kealia Pond on Maui and Aimakapa Pond, Hawai'i. This and the Lesser Scaup are the two most regularly occurring diving ducks in Hawai'i. Small flocks are usually seen but on occasions large groups of over 20 or 30 birds can be seen. Sometimes observed at Midway. |
 TUFTED DUCK (Aythya fuligula)Winter visitor Winter Wetland Drake has white body sides and black remainder of body. Head has purple sheen with distinct drooping tuft down rear head and neck. Eye yellow. Bill gray with black nail. Females are brown with paler sides and shorter tuft, often only showing as small bump. Some females show white facial feathering around the bill like Scaup. Immature males are like males but duller with shorter tuft. (17 inches) Calls: Male utters a series of quick bubbly or giggly sounds accelerating on falling pitch "wip wee-weeuwup". Female a low growling. Another irregularly recorded diving duck which is usually seen during the winter months. Usually only single birds are recorded amongst flocks of Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Ducks and so birds are usually recorded from the same locations as those species, such as Aimakapa Pond, Hawai'i and Kealia Pond NWR, Maui. Not recorded annually. |
 GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila)Winter visitor Winter Wetland Drake has white body sides, black breast and undertail and gray back. Head is blackish with usually a green sheen. Bill is pale gray and eye is yellow. Head shape is rounded. Female is brown with white facial patch and slightly longer and more curved bill than female Lesser Scaup. Wing pattern of both sexes distinctive in flight - see table below Lesser Scaup. (18 inches) Calls: Male utters low chorus of whistles "wu-wup wu-wo wupuwee". Female low growling "krah krah krah". Recorded annually during the winter months, usually amongst groups of Lesser Scaup and sometimes Ring-necked Ducks. The species also tends to prefer slightly deeper water, but still visits shallow lakes and ponds, such as at Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i.  The best way to distinguish
between Lesser and Greater Scaups is by shape of the head, bill structure, extent of "nail" blackness
on the bill, the back plumage (males) and by the extent of white on the open wing. Occasionally seen in the NW chain. |
| LESSER
SCAUP (Aythya affinis) Winter visitor Winter Wetland Similar to Greater Scaup but Drake has coarser and darker vermiculations on back and purple-sheened head. Head is peaked, not rounded. Female like female Greater Scaup but has straighter and shorter bill and different wing pattern. Distinctive wing pattern in both sexes - see table below. ( 16.5 inches) Calls: Similar to Greater Scaup. Commonly recorded during the winter, this is usually the most common diving duck species present, and can often be seen in groups of 20 or more at locations such as Kealia Pond NWR, Maui and Aimakapa Pond in Kona, Hawai'i. Smaller numbers are regularly recorded at many of the States wetlands, ponds and reservoirs on all the Main Islands, as well as occasionally on Midway. Identification of Greater and Lesser Scaup.
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BUFFLEHEAD (Bucephala
albeola)
Winter visitor
Winter
Wetland
Adult drake has white body with dark feathering on wings and back. Head is dark at front and bottom
and with a large white patch on the rear crown, cheeks, ear coverts and nape. Female and immatures
have brown bodies which are paler below. Head is dark chocolate brown with a white ear patch of variable size.
In flight shows white belly and black and white wing pattern in both sexes. (13.5 inches) Calls: A low growl given very rarely by Drake. Female
may give a series of low guttural growls. Migrants silent.
This small attractive diving duck is a scarce winter visitor that is not recorded
every year. It usually turns up in wetlands or ponds where there is fringing vegetation, but also occurs at water
bodies which seem very exposed, such as Kona Sewage Treatment Plant, Hawai'i.
Birds have been recorded on all the Main Islands
at locations such as Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i; Pearl Harbor NWR, O'ahu; Kealia
Pond, Maui and
Waiakea Pond, Hilo, Hawai'i. Could be expected on
almost any body of water of suitable size.
 PIED-BILLED GREBE
(Podilymbus podiceps)Winter visitor/Vagrant which has bred Fall; Winter (Has also nested) Wetland Male and Female similar. Adult is brown-gray with a deep-based short bill which is pale in color and a dark band in summer plumage. Also during the summer the species exhibits a black throat. The undertail coverts are white. Juveniles have streaked heads and necks. (13 inches) Calls: A variety of cackling or hooting notes. Also sounds like a distant barking dog. Although Pied-billed Grebes have bred in Hawai'i (at Aimakapa Pond during the 1980s-1990s) they are more usually seen as an occasional winter migrant to the Islands. Birds have turned up during the Fall and Winter months on several of the Main Islands at locations such as Hanalei NWR, Kaua'i, Kealia Pond, Maui and James Campbell NWR, O'ahu as well as nearby ponds and treatment plants close to Aimakapa Pond on the Big Island. Any body of water with vegetated sides and islands and stocked with suitable sized fish might attract a wandering Grebe. Other species which have occurred in Hawai'i are the Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe and Eared Grebe, although all three are extremely rare vagrants. Pied-billed Grebe photo © John Bushell. |
 SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS (Diomedia albatrus)Winter visitor Winter Pelagic/Coastal Adults are large with white underparts and back and black and white upperwings. The tail is white with a narrow black terminal band. The head is golden washed and the bill is pink. Sub-adults are blotchy and have brown hindnecks and wings. Juveniles are all-dark with pink bill and legs. (36 inches, wingspan 82 inches) Calls: Like other Albatross makes whinnying and moaning noises at nesting grounds. The second rarest Albatross in the World is a regular but extremely rare visitor in the winter months to Midway Atoll in the North West Chain and between one and three birds are usually present between November and March, although their visits can be erratic. Although birds have been sighted at sea on numerous occasions off North America and Alaska, there is only one modern-day record from the Main Hawaiian Islands, one seen at Barking Sands, Kaua'i in March 2000. Midway remains only one of three regularly occurring places where this species can be seen, the other being its Japanese nesting grounds at Tori-shima Island and Minami-kojima, although public access to these Japanese sites is nearly impossible. In early 2002 a pair were seen incubating an egg at Midway Atoll. Link: Short-tailed Albatross Link: Short-tailed Albatross Link: Short-tailed Albatross: Information and Recent Sightings in North Pacific Link: Short-tailed Albatross History |
| MOTTLED PETREL (Pterodroma inexpectata) Migrant Spring; Fall Pelagic/Coastal Adults: A smallish Pterodroma Petrel with gray upperparts and obvious black marking across wing. Below is pale gray except for a dark diagonal bar across the underwing and a bold dark gray belly patch. Tail is gray. (14 inches, wingspan 32 inches) Calls: Presumably similar to other Ptreodroma Petrels at breeding grounds. Migrants silent. Although by no means common off Hawaiian shores, this is one of the more regularly recorded "Gadfly" Petrels. Occasionally birds are seen from land, such as from Nawiliwili Lighthouse, Kaua'i but they are more frequently sighted on pelagic trips. Birds are most often recorded in the Spring and Fall, but birds may occur in early winter and in the summer. |
 BULLER'S SHEARWATER (Puffinus bulleri)Very Scarce Migrant Spring; Fall Pelagic/Coastal Adults are white below with only an extremely narrow dark border. The upperparts are pale gray with a distinctly darker "M" across the wings and a black cap. The tail is gray with a black terminal band above and dark below. (18 inches, wingspan 40 inches) Calls: Probably similar to other Puffinus but migrants silent. An irregular and probably under-recorded species in Hawaiian pelagic waters and very rarely from land. The best time to look for this species is Spring and Fall. Prominant headlands such as Nawiliwili and Makahuena Point on Kaua'i, Kaena Point on O'ahu and South Point on the Big Island are some of the better places to look for from land. Pelagics from Kaua'i and O'ahu have recorded the species on several occasions. Photograph © by Hadoram Shirihai. |
| SOOTY SHEARWATER (Puffinus
griseus) Migrant Spring; Fall Pelagic/Coastal Adults are completely sooty colored except for silvery wing linings, which are very noticeable in flight even at distance. Very rarely birds may have a dull underwing. See table of identification features after the next species (Short-tailed Shearwater). (19 inches, wingspan 43 inches) Calls: Various raucous calls and groans. Migrants silent. A regular and numerous Spring passage migrant and regular in smaller numbers in the Fall. The Sooty Shearwater can often be seen from headlands in the Main Islands, such as Nawiliwili Lighthouse on Kaua'i, where up to 50 have been seen in a couple of hours during the evening with favorable winds, although during a seawatch in 2000 over 500 were seen passing in just over two and a half hours! Other prominent headlands in the Main Islands, particularly on Kaua'i and O'ahu will also likely produce this species. Pelagics from Kaua'i and O'ahu also regularly sight the species and birds can often be approached relatively closely, especially when they are in feeding groups or resting in rafts on the sea. |
| SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER (Puffinus tenuirostris) Migrant Spring; Fall Pelagic/Coastal Adults are very similar to Sooty Shearwater but are slightly smaller (not usually discernible) and have dull wing linings. Occasionally birds will show paler wing linings, but probably not as obvious as Sooty Shearwater. See table below for identification differences. (16 inches, wingspan 38 inches) Calls: Probably similar to Sooty Shearwater. Migrants silent. This species is probably under-recorded in Hawaiian waters due to its similarity to Sooty Shearwater and the fact that many sightings of both species are from land, where observation of finer plumage details is not possible. Good features to help to try to separate the two species are the duller underwing of Short-tailed as well as a steeper forehead and smaller bill - often these features are only visible at close range or in extremely good light. Birds pass through in Spring and less regularly in Fall. Any headland where Sooty Shearwater is recorded is likely to produce this species too. Locations such as Nawiliwili and Makahuena Point on Kaua'i regularly record birds. A bird with dull underwings amongst a flock of Sooties is more likely to be this species than a Sooty with dull underwings, which are sometimes recorded. Identification features for separating Sooty, Short-tailed and Christmas Shearwaters.
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| LEACH'S STORM PETREL (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) Migrant Spring; Fall; Summer Pelagic/Coastal Adults are small with a prominently forked tail and a narrow white V-shaped rump which usually has a dark centre, although this can vary in size from quite wide to extremely narrow, and sometimes appears almost absent. In flight the wrist has a prominent bend at the wrist. Otherwise all dark except for grayish face and very obvious pale bar across upperwing. In strong wind flight is quite powerful and glides on slightly bowed, angled wings. (8 inches, wingspan 15 inches) Calls: Strange rattling cooing interrupted by a falsetto "wuee-cha" now and again and finishing with a spirited "chu-chattericha-chiterri". Migrants silent. This small Petrel is often recorded during the Spring and Fall, although all records so far are from pelagic trips, rather than from land. Birds have been seen from all the Main Islands and so no one particular area appears better than another. A bird seen between Kaua'i and Ni'ihau during the Summer of 2000 was unseasonal based on present knowledge of occurrences, but it could turn out that birds are present throughout the summer and may even breed somewhere in the Hawai'ian Archipelago. During the summer birds may be seen off Kaua'i amongst Band-rumped Storm Petrels. |
 GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)Very Scarce Winter visitor Winter Wetland Large size distinguishes this species from all other resident or migrant herons in Hawai'i. Adults are gray-blue above and gray below with obvious chestnut colored flanks and upper leg feathering. The neck is pale gray with black streaking down the front. The head is pale and has short black head plumest, lacking in winter plumage and black supercilium. The bill is pale and the legs are dark. Juveniles are gray with a black cap and no head plumes. Sub-adults are intermediate but usually have some chestnut on the underparts like adults and a hint of adult-like head patterning. (46 inches, wingspan 72 inches) Calls: Heron-like "kraawk".  The most regularly occurring
migrant Heron to the State, is by no means common and is not recorded every year. It usually occurs in the winter
but has also been seen throughout the year. Most of Hawai'i's larger wetlands such as Hanalei
NWR, Kaua'i; James Campbell NWR, O'ahu; Kealia
Pond, Maui and Aimakapa Pond,
Hawai'i have recorded the species. Occasionally
a bird will stay for a long period or may return in successive years (as has happened on Kaua'i and O'ahu before).
The most unusual sighting of a Great Blue must be from Lehua Rock (just off the tip of Ni'ihau), where a bird was
present from at least April until September of 2000. This is likley the most Westerly record ever of this species.Other species recorded include Green Heron, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Intermediate Egret and White-faced Ibis, all of which are extremely uncommon or rare in Hawai'i. |
 OSPREY (Pandion
haliaetus)Winter visitor Winter; Spring; Fall Wetland The largest raptor most birders will see in Hawai'i. Adult: Brown above with white underparts and variable amounts of dark streaks on the underparts concentrated in a breast band in some (female) birds. Underwing is patterned brown and white. Head is white with brown eye-stripe extending to nape and back. Short tufted crest which is brown and white. Yellow eye, hooked beak and sharp talons. Immatures have upperparts with pale feather edges. (22-25 inches, wingspan 58-72 inches) Calls: Silent usually in Hawai'i, but may make a high-pitched raptor-like call - "kyew-kyew-kyew-kyew". This impressive species is regularly recorded during the winter months and may be present between October and April. Birds tend to be rather erratic in their appearances and probably often fly upstream to areas which are hard to reach by birders. Birds have been recorded on all the Main Islands and even Midway. The following are sites which have recorded Osprey more than a couple of times, some remaining for several weeks or months. Kaua'i: Hanalei NWR, Menehune Fishpond (Lihue), Alexander Reservoir, Waita Reservoir and Wailua Reservoir. O'ahu: James Campbell NWR, Pearl Harbor NWR, Kawainui Marsh. Maui: Kanaha Pond State Sanctuary, Kealia Pond NWR. Hawai'i: Aimakapa Pond, Waiakea Pond, Loko Waka Pond. Any of the larger reservoirs may be visited by an Osprey but timing a visit to coincide with a bird is unusual. |
| PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco
peregrinus) Winter visitor Winter Coastal; Wetland; Open Country; Upland Forest; Lowland Forest; Urban Adults are gray above and white below with dark barring on the underparts. Head is gray with wide dark moustachial area and white cheeks. At close range cere is seen to be yellow. Immatures are brown with dark streaks below. Immature and adult tundrius are paler on the breast and head than the darker pealei race. (16-20 inches, wingspan 36-44 inches) Calls: High pitched "keen-keen-keen" or "kyi ki ki ki". A fairly regular winter visitor to Hawai'i, although most years only one or two are recorded, and sometimes none. Birds are likely to be encountered anywhere, but birds have been recorded from Kilauea Point NWR (chasing Frigatebirds!) and Hanalei NWR (chasing Hawaiian Ducks!) on Kaua'i, to the high rise tower blocks of Honolulu and Waikiki on O'ahu. Birds have been recorded on all the Main Islands as well as rarely in the NW Chain. Occasionally birds will over-summer. Birds have been assigned to race on a few occasions and it appears that both paelei from the Aleutians and tundrius from North America and Canada have occurred. Birds may occur over forested areas, in valleys, over city buildings and over wetlands and the coast and so a sighting is usually more a matter of luck than one of searching out a Peregrine. A few other species of Raptor have been seen in Hawai'i, the most regular of which is the Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), which is occasionally seen in the Main Islands, although this is still very rare (see account above). Other species have included Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Steller's Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus), Chinese Goshawk (Accipiter soloensis), Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagapos lagapos or B.l. sanctijohannis), Merlin (Falco columbarius) (all NW Islands) and the infamous Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) on Kaua'i, which whilst defending its territory met its untimely e |