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HAWAIIAN BIRD NAMES

Most species of Birds that occurred in Hawai'i were given names by the Ancient Hawaiians and some are still used today, with some modifications to reflect modern taxonomy. For example, 'amakihi is a traditional name but Kaua'i 'Amakihi is a modern construct. Below is a list of species with their English name (if they have one), Scientific name, Hawaiian name and in some cases what the Hawaiian name means. Most of these names were learned from native Hawaiian speakers by haole ornithologists during the 19th century, and some of them have been controversial for a variety of reasons. Munro reported the name Hoa for the Greater Koa-Finch, but other authors disputed the validity of that name and it was not widely adopted. Sometimes native speakers gave different names to the same bird, as in Apapane vs. Akakane. Wilson reported the name 'O'u-holowai for the bird we call the Akeke'e, but Perkins corrected it based on wider contact with Hawaiian informants. Victorian scholars cringed at the name 'Akohekohe because it is a slightly prurient pun. Although it is onomatopoetic, it is also a reference to the resemblance of the bird's crest to pubic hair. The Hawaiians apparently had a well-developed sense of humor. Some Hawaiian names had specific meanings ('Ula-'ai-hawane translates roughly as "red palm creeper"), some were imitative ('elepaio, probably 'I'iwi) and others were just the name of the bird (after all, what does "oriole" or "sparrow" mean in English?). Those names that derive from the birds call or song are marked with the following: *Call

ENGLISH NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME HAWAIIAN NAME MEANING OF HAWAIIAN NAME

LAYSAN ALBATROSS Diomedia immutabilis Moli Moli was the Hawaiian word for a bone tattoo needle, which was made from the bone of an Albatross.

BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS Diomedia nigripes Ka'upu

HAWAIIAN PETREL Pterodroma sandwichensis Ua'u *Call

BAND-RUMPED STORM PETREL Oceanodroma castro 'Ake 'Ake *Call

WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER Puffinus pacificus 'Ua'u Kani *Call

NEWELL'S SHEARWATER Puffinus newelli 'A'o *Call

BULWER'S PETREL Bulweria bulwerii 'Ou *Call ?

RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD Phaethon rubricauda rothschildi Koa'e'ula

WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD Phaethon lepturus dorotheae Koa'e'kea

MASKED BOOBY Sula dactylatra personata 'A *Call

RED-FOOTED BOOBY Sula sula rubripes 'A *Call

BROWN BOOBY Sula leucogaster plotus 'A *Call

GREAT FRIGATEDBIRD Fregata minor palmerstoni Iwa Thief

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli 'Auku'u or 'Auku'u-kahili Kahili is a fly-brush and refers to the white head plumes.

HAWAIIAN GOOSE Branta sandvicensis Nene *Call

HAWAIIAN DUCK Anas wyvilliana Koloa Maoli Native Duck.

NORTHERN PINTAIL Anas acuta Koloa Mapu 'Wind-blown' Duck. Also mapu means to rise or float as a cloud (ie. flocks).

NORTHERN SHOVELER Anas clypeata Koloa Moha 'Bright' or "shiny" Duck.

HAWAIIAN HAWK Buteo solitarius 'Io *Call

HAWAIIAN COOT Fulicia alai 'Alae Ke'oke'o White frontal shield.

HAWAIIAN COMMON MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis 'Alae 'Ula Red frontal shield.

HAWAIIAN BLACK-NECKED STILT Himantopus mexicanus knudseni Ae'o One standing Tall.

BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW Numenius tahitiensis Kioea Long legs. Also *Call

PACIFIC-GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis fulva Kolea

RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres 'Akekeke An ancient harplike instrument. Also*Call

SANDERLING Calidris alba Hunakai Sea Foam.

WANDERING TATTLER Heteroscelus incanus 'Ulili *Call

SOOTY TERN Sterna fuscata oahuensis 'Ewa'Ewa Call or make an uncomfortable noise refers to the noisy flocks this species forms.

GRAY-BACKED TERN Sterna lunata Pakalakala Refers to the small fish the species eats.

BROWN NODDY Anous stolidus pileatus Noio Koha Large Noio (gray forehaed), formed from kohala which means large.

BLACK NODDY Anous minutus melanogenys Noio or Lae hina Gray forehead, hina means gray.

WHITE TERN Gygis alba rothschildi Mau-o-ku

HAWAIIAN SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus sandwichensis Pueo Huddled or Crouched

RED JUNGLEFOWL Gallus gallus Moa Refers to the large flightless New Zealand birds (Maori derivation).

HAWAIIAN CROW Corvus hawaiiensis 'Alala To cry, crow or caw. Also 'Ala means to rise and la means the sun and refers to the flocks of birds which would start calling noisily at dawn.

KAUA'I 'ELEPAIO Chasiempis sandwichensis sclateri 'Elepaio *Call

O'AHU 'ELEPAIO Chasiempis sandwichensis gayi 'Elepaio *Call

HAWAI'I 'ELEPAIO Chasiempis sandwichensis sandwichensis 'Elepaio *Call

HAWAIIAN THRUSH Myadestes obscurus 'Oma'o Probably a corruption from 'Amaui (the name originally given to all the Hawaiian Thrushes) and is formed from the name Manu a Maui or "Island Thrush".

SMALL KAUA'I THRUSH Myadestes palmeri Puaiohi

Psittirostra psittacea 'O'u Male = O'u po'o lapalapa - 'square-headed O'u'

Female = O'u lae o'o - 'mature-headed O'u'

Loxioides bailleui Palila Refers to the species gray upperparts.

Loxopus coccineus 'Akepa "Active", "nimble", "quick".

KAUA'I 'AKEPA Loxopus caeruleirostris 'Akeke'e (or O'u holo wai) "Active", "nimble", "quick".

LESSER 'AMAKIHI Hemignathus parvus 'Anianiau Nianiau means "straight". Name also means eating in small bites.

Hemignathus virens virens 'Amakihi 'Amakihi means "curved" from the words kihi or kihikihi.

Hemignathus chloris 'Amakihi 'Amakihi means "curved" from the words kihi or kihikihi.

Hemignathus kauaiensis 'Amakihi 'Amakihi means "curved" from the words kihi or kihikihi.

Hemignathus lucidus Nuku Pu'u 'Bill shaped like a hill'

Hemignathus munroi 'Akiapola'au

KAUA'I CREEPER Oreomystis bairdi 'Akikiki *Call (probably)

HAWAI'I CREEPER Oreomystis mana

O'AHU CREEPER Paroreomyza maculata 'Alauahio

MAUI CREEPER Paroreomyza montana 'Alauahio

MAUI PARROTBILL Pseudonestor xanthophrys

Himatione sanguinea 'Apapane

Vestiaria coccinea 'I'iwi (Eye twitching) *Call

CRESTED HONEYCREEPER Palmeria dolei 'Akohekohe Refers to the short crest feathers which were deemed reminiscent of pubic hair by the ancient Hawaiians.

PO'OULI Melamprosops phaeosoma Po'ouli Black masked or Dark-headed. The name was bestowed by Mary Pukui after the species discovery in the 1970s, who apparently
misunderstood the description of the bird. It is supposed to mean
"black face" but instead means "black head" which is not accurate.

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As well as the above species the following are extinct species (since 1800) which had Hawaiian names, those species without Hawaiian names, eg. Lana'i Hookbill (Dysmorodrepanis munroi) have not been included but can be found at the end of the Unofficial State List.

HAWAIIAN RAIL Porzana sandwichensis Moho "Bird that calls from the grass".

LARGE KAUA'I THRUSH Myadestes myadestinus Kama'o

O'AHU THRUSH Myadestes oahuensis `Amaui Probably a corruption from the name originally given to all the Hawaiian Thrushes, and is formed from the name Manu a Maui or "Island Thrush".

LANA'I THRUSH Myadestes lanaiensis lanaiensis Lana`i `Olomao

MOLOKAI THRUSH Myadestes lanaiensis Oloma'o

O'AHU O'O Moho apicalis 'O'o

BISHOP'S O'O Moho bishopi 'O'o Named by Lord Rothschild after Mr. Charles Bishop who founded the Bishop Museum.

HAWAI'I O'O Moho nobilis 'O'o

KAUA'I O'O Moho braccatus Kaua'i 'O'o or 'O'o'a'a Dwarf O'o

Chaetoptila angustipluma Kioea Long legs.

LANA'I HOOKBILL Dysmorodrepanis munroi

GREATER KOA FINCH Rhodacanthis palmeri Hopue

LESSER KOA FINCH Rhodacanthis flaviceps

KONA GROSBEAK Chloridops kona

GREATER 'AMAKIHI Hemignathus sagittirostris

GREATER 'AKIALOA Hemignathus ellisianus Also 'Akihialoa. refers to a "long, curved bill".

LESSER 'AKIALOA Hemignathus obscurus Also 'Akihialoa. refers to a "long, curved bill".

Hemignathus lucidus lucidus O'ahu Nukupu'u Nuku means bill of a bird. Pu'u is a small round hill. Therefore Nukupu'u means bird with a bill shape shaped like a small round hill.

LANA'I CREEPER Paroreomyza montana montana Lana'i Alauahio

MOLOKA'I CREEPER Paroreomyza flammea Kakawahie "To break up firewood" and refers to the species chipping call notes.

Loxops coccineus wolstenholmei O'ahu 'Akepa "Active"

Ciridops anna `Ula - 'ai - hawane "Red bird that feeds on the hawane plant", or "red palm creeper".

HAWAI' MAMO Drepanis pacifica Mamo Probably a corruption of Hoohoo ('O'o) and relates to calls.

BLACK MAMO Drepanis funerea 'O'o nuku mu " 'O'o with the sucking beak"

LAYSAN HONEYCREEPER Himatione sanguinea freethii

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"Ulili E"

Hone ana ka leo e 'Uliili e

The voice of the Ulili is sweet

'Ekahi manu noho 'ae kai

A bird that stays by the water's edge

Kia'i ma ka lae a'o Kekaha

Guarding the point at Kekaha

'O ia kai ua lana malie

This gently flowing sea

(Traditional Hawaiian song - Anon)

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ENGLISH NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	HAWAIIAN NAME	MEANING OF HAWAIIAN NAME

LAYSAN ALBATROSS	Diomedia immutabilis	Moli	Moli was the Hawaiian word for a bone tattoo needle, which was made from the bone of an Albatross.
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS	Diomedia nigripes	Ka'upu
HAWAIIAN PETREL	Pterodroma sandwichensis	Ua'u	*Call
BAND-RUMPED STORM PETREL	Oceanodroma castro	'Ake 'Ake	*Call
WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER	Puffinus pacificus	'Ua'u Kani	*Call
NEWELL'S SHEARWATER	Puffinus newelli	'A'o	*Call
BULWER'S PETREL	Bulweria bulwerii	'Ou	*Call ?
RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD	Phaethon rubricauda rothschildi	Koa'e'ula
WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD	Phaethon lepturus dorotheae	Koa'e'kea
MASKED BOOBY	Sula dactylatra personata	'A	*Call
RED-FOOTED BOOBY	Sula sula rubripes	'A	*Call
BROWN BOOBY	Sula leucogaster plotus	'A	*Call
GREAT FRIGATEDBIRD	Fregata minor palmerstoni	Iwa	Thief
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON	Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli	'Auku'u or 'Auku'u-kahili	Kahili is a fly-brush and refers to the white head plumes.
HAWAIIAN GOOSE	Branta sandvicensis	Nene	*Call
HAWAIIAN DUCK	Anas wyvilliana	Koloa Maoli	Native Duck.
NORTHERN PINTAIL	Anas acuta	Koloa Mapu	'Wind-blown' Duck. Also mapu means to rise or float as a cloud (ie. flocks).
NORTHERN SHOVELER	Anas clypeata	Koloa Moha	'Bright' or "shiny" Duck.
HAWAIIAN HAWK	Buteo solitarius	'Io	*Call
HAWAIIAN COOT	Fulicia alai	'Alae Ke'oke'o	White frontal shield.
HAWAIIAN COMMON MOORHEN	Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis	'Alae 'Ula	Red frontal shield.
HAWAIIAN BLACK-NECKED STILT	Himantopus mexicanus knudseni	Ae'o	One standing Tall.
BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW	Numenius tahitiensis	Kioea	Long legs. Also *Call
PACIFIC-GOLDEN PLOVER	Pluvialis fulva	Kolea
RUDDY TURNSTONE	Arenaria interpres	'Akekeke	An ancient harplike instrument. Also*Call
SANDERLING	Calidris alba	Hunakai	Sea Foam.
WANDERING TATTLER	Heteroscelus incanus	'Ulili	*Call
SOOTY TERN	Sterna fuscata oahuensis	'Ewa'Ewa	Call or make an uncomfortable noise refers to the noisy flocks this species forms.
GRAY-BACKED TERN	Sterna lunata	Pakalakala	Refers to the small fish the species eats.
BROWN NODDY	Anous stolidus pileatus	Noio Koha	Large Noio (gray forehaed), formed from kohala which means large.
BLACK NODDY	Anous minutus melanogenys	Noio or Lae hina	Gray forehead, hina means gray.
WHITE TERN	Gygis alba rothschildi	Mau-o-ku
HAWAIIAN SHORT-EARED OWL	Asio flammeus sandwichensis	Pueo	Huddled or Crouched
RED JUNGLEFOWL	Gallus gallus	Moa	Refers to the large flightless New Zealand birds (Maori derivation).
HAWAIIAN CROW	Corvus hawaiiensis	'Alala	To cry, crow or caw. Also 'Ala means to rise and la means the sun and refers to the flocks of birds which would start calling noisily at dawn.
KAUA'I 'ELEPAIO	Chasiempis sandwichensis sclateri	'Elepaio	*Call
O'AHU 'ELEPAIO	Chasiempis sandwichensis gayi	'Elepaio	*Call
HAWAI'I 'ELEPAIO	Chasiempis sandwichensis sandwichensis	'Elepaio	*Call
HAWAIIAN THRUSH	Myadestes obscurus	'Oma'o	Probably a corruption from 'Amaui (the name originally given to all the Hawaiian Thrushes) and is formed from the name Manu a Maui or "Island Thrush".
SMALL KAUA'I THRUSH	Myadestes palmeri	Puaiohi
	Psittirostra psittacea	'O'u	Male = O'u po'o lapalapa - 'square-headed O'u' Female = O'u lae o'o - 'mature-headed O'u'
	Loxioides bailleui	Palila	Refers to the species gray upperparts.
	Loxopus coccineus	'Akepa	"Active", "nimble", "quick".
KAUA'I 'AKEPA	Loxopus caeruleirostris	'Akeke'e (or O'u holo wai)	"Active", "nimble", "quick".
LESSER 'AMAKIHI	Hemignathus parvus	'Anianiau	Nianiau means "straight". Name also means eating in small bites.
	Hemignathus virens virens	'Amakihi	'Amakihi means "curved" from the words kihi or kihikihi.
	Hemignathus chloris	'Amakihi	'Amakihi means "curved" from the words kihi or kihikihi.
	Hemignathus kauaiensis	'Amakihi	'Amakihi means "curved" from the words kihi or kihikihi.
	Hemignathus lucidus	Nuku Pu'u	'Bill shaped like a hill'
	Hemignathus munroi	'Akiapola'au
KAUA'I CREEPER	Oreomystis bairdi	'Akikiki	*Call (probably)
HAWAI'I CREEPER	Oreomystis mana
O'AHU CREEPER	Paroreomyza maculata	'Alauahio
MAUI CREEPER	Paroreomyza montana	'Alauahio
MAUI PARROTBILL	Pseudonestor xanthophrys
	Himatione sanguinea	'Apapane
	Vestiaria coccinea	'I'iwi	(Eye twitching) *Call
CRESTED HONEYCREEPER	Palmeria dolei	'Akohekohe	Refers to the short crest feathers which were deemed reminiscent of pubic hair by the ancient Hawaiians.
PO'OULI	Melamprosops phaeosoma	Po'ouli	Black masked or Dark-headed. The name was bestowed by Mary Pukui after the species discovery in the 1970s, who apparently misunderstood the description of the bird. It is supposed to mean "black face" but instead means "black head" which is not accurate.

HAWAIIAN RAIL	Porzana sandwichensis	Moho	"Bird that calls from the grass".
LARGE KAUA'I THRUSH	Myadestes myadestinus	Kama'o
O'AHU THRUSH	Myadestes oahuensis	`Amaui	Probably a corruption from the name originally given to all the Hawaiian Thrushes, and is formed from the name Manu a Maui or "Island Thrush".
LANA'I THRUSH	Myadestes lanaiensis lanaiensis	Lana`i `Olomao
MOLOKAI THRUSH	Myadestes lanaiensis	Oloma'o
O'AHU O'O	Moho apicalis	'O'o
BISHOP'S O'O	Moho bishopi	'O'o	Named by Lord Rothschild after Mr. Charles Bishop who founded the Bishop Museum.
HAWAI'I O'O	Moho nobilis	'O'o
KAUA'I O'O	Moho braccatus	Kaua'i 'O'o or 'O'o'a'a	Dwarf O'o
	Chaetoptila angustipluma	Kioea	Long legs.
LANA'I HOOKBILL	Dysmorodrepanis munroi
GREATER KOA FINCH	Rhodacanthis palmeri	Hopue
LESSER KOA FINCH	Rhodacanthis flaviceps
KONA GROSBEAK	Chloridops kona
GREATER 'AMAKIHI	Hemignathus sagittirostris
GREATER 'AKIALOA	Hemignathus ellisianus		Also 'Akihialoa. refers to a "long, curved bill".
LESSER 'AKIALOA	Hemignathus obscurus		Also 'Akihialoa. refers to a "long, curved bill".
	Hemignathus lucidus lucidus	O'ahu Nukupu'u	Nuku means bill of a bird. Pu'u is a small round hill. Therefore Nukupu'u means bird with a bill shape shaped like a small round hill.
LANA'I CREEPER	Paroreomyza montana montana	Lana'i Alauahio
MOLOKA'I CREEPER	Paroreomyza flammea	Kakawahie	"To break up firewood" and refers to the species chipping call notes.
	Loxops coccineus wolstenholmei	O'ahu 'Akepa	"Active"
	Ciridops anna	`Ula - 'ai - hawane	"Red bird that feeds on the hawane plant", or "red palm creeper".
HAWAI' MAMO	Drepanis pacifica	Mamo	Probably a corruption of Hoohoo ('O'o) and relates to calls.
BLACK MAMO	Drepanis funerea	'O'o nuku mu	" 'O'o with the sucking beak"
LAYSAN HONEYCREEPER	Himatione sanguinea freethii