SIGHTINGS FROM HAWAI'I FOREST & TRAIL

Hawai'i Forest and Trail run four different birding tours. Rainforest Birdwatching Adventure goes to a piece of native forest kipuka off the saddle road at 5400' elevation on the Pu'u O'o Ranch. Hakalau Birdwatching Adventure goes to the Pua Akala tract of Hakalau NWR. Leeward Birdwatching Adventure goes to the mamane/naio forest at the Pu'u La'au area on Mauna Kea, then down to Pu'u Anahulu and the Big Island Country Club, and ends up at Aimakapa pond at Kaloko Honokohau National Park. The Rain/Dry Birding Adventure splits the day between the dry mamane/naio forest at Pu'u La'au and the wet forest kipuka at Pu'u O'o ranch. All of these tours include car birding along Mamalahoa Hwy. and the Saddle Road, plus at Hakalau birding is done on Keanokolu road. These location descriptions are for reference to further reports. Endemic and indigenous species are highlighted Blue, introduced species in Green, migrant species in Black and Rarities in Red.

Rob Pacheco

The table below shows what species can be expected on each tour.

For recent highlights from individual tours click below.

		Rainforest Birdwatching Adventure		Hakalau Birdwatching Adventure		Leeward Birdwatching Adventure		Rain/Dry Birding Adventure
Cattle Egret		Occasional				Regular
Black-Crowned Night Heron		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Nene (Hawaiian Goose)		Regular		Regular		Regular
I'o (Hawaiian Hawk)		Regular		Regular		Occasional		Regular
Mallard		Occasional				Occasional
Koloa x Mallard		Regular		Regular
Hawaiian Coot						Regular
Chukar		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Black Francolin		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Erckel's Francolin		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Gray Francolin		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Kalij Pheasant		Regular		Regular		Regular
Ring-Neck Pheasant		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Green/Black Pheasant		Regular		Regular		Regular
Wild Turkey		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Common Peafowl		Occasional				Occasional
California Quail		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Gambel's Quail		Occasional		Occasional
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse		Frequent				Occasional
Hawaiian Stilt						Regular		Occasional
Pacific-Golden Plover		Seasonally Regular		Seasonally Regular		Seasonally Regular
Ruddy Turnstone						Seasonally Regular
Sanderling						Seasonally Regular
Wandering Tattler		Occasional				Seasonally Regular		Seasonally Regular
Barn Owl		Regular		Regular		Occasional
Pueo (Short-eared Owl)		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Rock Dove		Regular				Regular
Spotted Dove		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Zebra Dove		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Northern Mockingbird		Occasional				Occasional
Hawai'i 'Elepaio		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Common Myna		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Japanese White-eye		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Red-billed Leiothrix		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Skylark		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
House Sparrow		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Red Avadavat		Regular				Regular		Regular
African Silverbill		Regular				Regular		Regular
Nutmeg Mannikin		Regular				Regular		Regular
Black-rumped waxbill		Occasional				Occasional		Occasional
Java Sparrow		Regular				Occasional		Occasional
Yellow-Fronted Canary		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
Northern Cardinal		Regular				Regular
Yellow-billed Cardinal						Regular
Saffron Finch		Regular		Occasional		Regular		Regular
House Finch		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
'Oma'o		Regular		Regular		Occasional		Regular
Hawai'i Amakihi		Regular		Regular		Regular		Regular
'Akiapola'au		Regular		Regular		Occasional		Regular
Palila						Regular		Regular
Hawai'i Creeper		Regular		Regular		Irregular		Regular
'Akepa				Regular
I'iwi		Regular		Regular		Irregular		Regular
'Apapane		Regular		Regular		Irregular		Regular

Regular = Likely to be seen on every or almost every trip.

Irregular = Regular but not seen on every or almost every time on trips to this area.

Seasonally regular = Likely to be seen on every or almost every trip during the correct season.

Occasional = Only recorded occasionally or rarely on this trip.

Bold Blue denotes Endemic or Indiginous species.

Note: Species listed may not necessarily be seen on every trip where listed, and a blank space does not necessarily mean that the species will not be recorded on the particular trip but may be less likely to be observed. Trips may also be adapted to take in other areas and habitats and so species lists will of course change. In addition scarcer migrants or vagrants may be recorded on some of the trips and are not listed here, but can be found below.

Highlights from recent Hawai'i Forest and Trail Trips

Rainforest Birdwatching Adventure

Date: 7/24/03. Guide: Garry; Tour: Rainforest; Special Stops: None

Wild Turkey
California Quail
Black Francolin
Gray Francolin
Erckel's Francolin
Ring-necked Pheasant
Green Pheasant
Rock Dove
Spotted Dove
Zebra Dove
Short-eared Owl
Sky Lark
Omao
Elepaio
Red-billed Leiothrix
Japanese White-eye
Common Myna
Hawaii Amakihi
Akiapolaau
Iiwi
Saffron Finch
House Finch
Yellow-fronted Canary
House Sparrow

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Hakalau Birdwatching Adventure

Date: 1/30/05 Guide: Garry Dean Special Stops: Big Island Country Club

Hawaiian Goose
Hawaiian Hawk (7)
Wild Turkey
California Quail
Chukar
Black Francolin
Erckel's Francolin
Kalij Pheasant
Ring-necked Pheasant
Green Pheasant
Pacific Golden-Plover
Spotted Dove
Zebra Dove
Short-eared Owl (28!)
Sky Lark
Omao
Elepaio
Red-billed Leiothrix
Japanese White-eye
Common Myna
Palila
Hawaii Amakihi
Akiapolaau
Hawaii Creeper
Akepa
Iiwi
Apapane
Saffron Finch
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
House Sparrow

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Leeward Birdwatching Adventure

Date: Dec. 24, 2003 Guide: Garry Dean Special Stops: BICC & Kiholo

Cattle Egret
Northern Shoveler
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Wild Turkey
California Quail
Black Francolin
Gray Francolin
Erckel's Francolin
Kalij Pheasant
Ring-necked Pheasant
Hawaiian Coot
Black-necked Stilt
Pacific Golden-Plover
Wandering Tattler
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Glaucous-winged Gull
Spotted Dove
Zebra Dove
Sky Lark
Elepaio
Japanese White-eye
Common Myna
Red Avadavat
African Silverbill
Nutmeg Mannikin
Palila
Hawaii Amakihi
Saffron Finch
Yellow-billed Cardinal
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Yellow-fronted Canary
House Sparrow

Date: 9/25/03. Guide: Garry; Special Stops: None

Great Frigatebird
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Hawaiian Goose
Wild Turkey
California Quail
Chukar
Black Francolin
Gray Francolin
Erckel's Francolin
Ring-necked Pheasant
Green Pheasant
Hawaiian Coot
Black-necked Stilt
Wandering Tattler
Ruddy Turnstone
Rock Dove
Spotted Dove
Zebra Dove
Short-eared Owl
Sky Lark
Elepaio
Red-billed Leiothrix
Japanese White-eye
Common Myna
Red Avadavat
African Silverbill
Nutmeg Mannikin
Palila
Hawaii Amakihi
Saffron Finch
Yellow-billed Cardinal
House Finch
Yellow-fronted Canary
House Sparrow

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Rain/Dry Birding Adventure

Date: 2/4/05 Guide: Kevin Schneider Special Stops: None

Hawaiian Hawk
Wild Turkey
California Quail
Chukar
Black Francolin
Erckel's Francolin
Kalij Pheasant
Ring-necked Pheasant
Pacific Golden-Plover
Barn Owl
Short-eared Owl
Sky Lark
Elepaio
Japanese White-eye
Common Myna
Palila
Hawaii Amakihi
Iiwi
Apapane
Saffron Finch
House Finch
House Sparrow


Date: 1/28/05; Guide: Kevin Schneider; Special Stops: None

Wild Turkey
California Quail
Chukar
Black Francolin
Gray Francolin
Erckel's Francolin
Kalij Pheasant
Ring-necked Pheasant
Pacific Golden-Plover
Zebra Dove
Barn Owl
Short-eared Owl
Sky Lark
Omao
Elepaio
Red-billed Leiothrix
Japanese White-eye
Common Myna
African Silverbill
Palila
Hawaii Amakihi
Akiapolaau
Iiwi
Apapane
House Finch
Yellow-fronted Canary
House Sparrow

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