THE HAWAI'I STATE BIRD LIST

This is the official list of all bird species currently accepted as having been recorded in a wild state in Hawai'i. Species which are introduced are only included if they have currently established, viable, self-sustaining populations. Over 300 species have been recorded in the State so far, and although many are introduced species, new migrants and vagrants are recorded almost every year.

All interesting records of migrants, vagrants and resident species, both native and introduced, should be documented and sent to either of the following people; all interesting reports are also welcomed for use on the Birding Hawaii Website.

Robert L. Pyle rlpyle@hawaii.rr.com

or

Peter Donaldson PDonaldson@hawaii.rr.com

Records of unusual or vagrant species are especially welcomed when accompanied by a written description or photographs. Records are kept on file for future reference and also submitted to American Birding Association's North American Birds (formerly Field Notes) and become a permanent record of the species seen in the State of Hawai'i. Downloadable Checklists are available at the foot of this page.

The following Taxonomic List generally follows the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) United States Bird Species List and incorporates changes made in the 42nd, 43rd and 44th Supplements to the Check-list, as published in The Auk 117: 847-858 (2000); 119:897-906 (2002); 120:923-932 (2003). Alternative taxonomic orders and nomenclature for most species occurring in Hawai'i can be found on the Avibase Website.
E = Endemic; I = Indigenous; IN = Introduced; M = Migrant; V = Vagrant; Er = Endemic Race; Ex = Extinct; M(B)/V(B) = Migrant/Vagrant which has nested in the State.

ANSERIFORMES

WHISTLING-DUCKS: Dendrocygninae

Fulvous Whisling-Duck - Dendrocygna bicolor V(B)

GEESE and SWANS: Anserinae

Greater White-Fronted Goose - Anser albifrons M
Emperor Goose - Anser canagica V
Snow Goose - Anser caerulescens V
Cackling Goose - Branta hutchinsii M
Hawaiian Goose (Nene) - Branta sandvicensis E
Black Brant - Branta bernicla nigricans M
Tundra Swan - Cygnus columbianus V

DUCKS: Anatinae

Gadwall - Anas strepera V
Falcated Duck - Anas falcata V
Eurasian Wigeon - Anas penelope M
American Wigeon - Anas americana M
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos M
Hawaiian Duck (Koloa maoli) - Anas wyvilliana E
Laysan Duck - Anas laysanensis E
Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors M(B)
Cinnamon Teal - Anas cyanoptera M
Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata M
Northern Pintail - Anas acuta M
Garganey - Anas querquedula M
Baikal Teal - Anas formosa V
Green-winged Teal - Anas carolinensis M
Eurasian Teal - Anas crecca M
Canvasback - Aythya valisineria M
Redhead - Aythya americana V
Common Pochard - Aythya ferina V
Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris M
Tufted Duck - Athya fuligula M
Greater Scaup - Aythya marila M
Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis M
Harlequin Duck - Histrionicus histrionicus V
Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata V
Black Scoter - Melanitta nigra V
Long-tailed Duck (Oldsquaw) - Clangula hyemalis V
Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola M
Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula V
Barrow's Goldeneye - Bucephala iclandica V
Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus V
Common Merganser (Goosander) - Mergus merganser V
Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator V
Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis V

GALLIFORMES

GROUSE and ALLIES: Phasianidae

Chukar - Alectoris chukar IN
Grey Francolin - Francolinus pondicerianus IN
Black francolin - Francolinus francolinus IN
Erckel's Francolin - Francolinus erckelli IN
Red-billed Francolin - Francolinus adspersus IN
Red-legged Partridge - Perdix perdix IN
Japanese Quail - Coturnix japonica IN
Red Junglefowl - Gallus gallus IN
Kalij Pheasant - Lophura leucomelana IN
Ring-necked Pheasant - Phasianus colchicus IN
Common Peafowl - Pavo cristatus IN

TURKEYS: Meleagridinae

Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo IN

WOOD PARTRIDGES: Odontophoridae

California Quail - Callipepla californica IN
Gambel's Quail - Callipepepla gambelli IN

GAVIIFORMES

DIVERS (LOONS): Gaviidae

Pacific Diver - Gavia arctica pacificus V

PODICIPEDIFORMES

GREBES: Podicepididae

Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps M(B)
Horned Grebe - Podiceps auritus V
Red-necked Grebe - Podiceps grisegena V
Eared Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis V

PROCELLARIIFORMES

ALBATROSSES: Diomedidae

Shy Albatross - Thalassarche cauta salvini V
Laysan Albatross - Phoebastria immutablis I
Black-footed Albatross - Phoebastria nigripes I
Short-tailed Albatross - Phoebastria albatrus V(B)

PETRELS: Procellariidae

Northern Fulmar - Fulmarus glacialis V
Kermadec Petrel - Pterodroma neglecta V
Herald Petrel - Pterodroma arminjoniana V
Providence Petrel - Pteredroma solandri V
Murphy's Petrel - Pterodroma ultima V
Mottled Petrel - Pterodroma inexpectata M
Juan Fernandez Petrel - Pterodroma externa M
Hawaiian Petrel - Pterodroma sandwichensis E
White-necked Petrel - Pterodroma cervicalis V
Bonin Petrel - Pterodroma hypoleuca I
Black-winged Petrel - Pterodroma nigripennis V
Cook's Petrel - Pterodroma cooki V
Pycroft's Petrel - Pterodroma pycrofti V
Stejneger's Petrel - Pterodroma longirostris V
Bulwer's Petrel - Bulweria bulwerii I
Jouanin's Petrel - Bulweria fallax V
Tahiti Petrel - Pseudobulweria rostrata V

SHEARWATERS: Procellariidae

Streaked Shearwater - Calonectris leucomelas V
Flesh-footed Shearwater - Puffinus carneipes V
Wedge-tailed Shearwater - Puffinus pacificus I
Buller's Shearwater - Puffinus bulleri M
Sooty Shearwater - Puffinus griseus M
Short-tailed Shearwater - Puffinus tenuirostris M
Christmas Shearwater - Puffinus nativitatus I
Newell's Shearwater - Puffinus newelli E
Little Shearwater - Puffinus assimilis V

STORM PETRELS: Hydrobatidae

Wilson's Storm-Petrel - Oceanites oceanicus V
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel - Oceanodroma furcata V
Leach's Storm-Petrel - Oceanodroma leucorhoa M
Band-rumped Storm-Petrel - Oceanodroma castro I
Tristram's Storm-Petrel - Oceanodroma tristrami I

PELECANIFORMES

TROPICBIRDS: Phaethontidae

White-tailed Tropicbird - Phaethon lepturus I
Red-billed Tropicbird - Phaethon aethereus V
Red-tailed Tropicbird - Phaethon rubicauda I

BOOBIES: Sulidae

Masked Booby - Sula dactylatra I
Brown Booby - Sula leucogaster I
Red-footed Booby - Sula sula I

CORMORANTS: Phalacrocoracidae

Great Cormorant - Phalocrocorax carbo sinensis V
Pelagic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pelagicus V

FRIGATEBIRDS: Fregatidae

Great Frigatebird - Fregata minor I
Lesser Frigatebird - Fregata ariel V(B)

CICONIIFORMES

HERONS: Ardeidae

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias M
Great Egret - Ardea alba V
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula V
Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea V
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis IN
Green Heron - Butorides virescens V
Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nyticorax I

IBIS: Threskiornithidae

White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi V

FALCONIFORMES

ACCIPITRIDAE

OSPREY: Pandionidae

Osprey - Pandion haliaetus M

HAWKS and EAGLES: Accipitridae

Black Kite - Milvus migrans V
Steller's Sea-Eagle - Haliaeetus pelagicus V
Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus hudsonius M
Chinese Goshawk - Accipiter soloensis V
Hawaiian Hawk (`Io) - Buteo solitarius E
Rough-legged Hawk - Buteo lagopus sanctijohannis V
Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos V

FALCONS: Falconidae

Merlin - Falco columbarius columbarius V
Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus M

GRUIFORMES

RAILS and ALLIES: Rallidae

Sora - Porzana carolina V
Hawaiian Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis Er
Hawaiian Coot - Fulica alai E
American Coot - Fulica americana V

CRANES: Gruidae

Sandhill Crane - Grus canadensis V

CHARADRIIFORMES

PLOVERS: Charadriidae

Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola M
Pacific Golden-Plover - Pluvialis fulva M
Mongolian Plover - Charadrius mongolus V
Common Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula V
Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus M
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus V
Eurasian Dotterel - Charadrius morinellus V

STILTS and AVOCETS: Recurvirostridae

Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus V
Hawaiian Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus knudseni Er

SANDPIPERS and SNIPES: Scolopacidae

Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca V
Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes M
Marsh Sandpiper - Tringa stagnatalis V
Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola V
Solitary Sandpiper - Tringa solitaria V
Willet - Catoptrophorus semipalmatus V
Wandering Tattler - Heteroscelus incanus M
Siberian Tattler - Heteroscelus brevipes V
Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularia V
Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus V
Bristle-thighed Curlew - Numenius tahitiensis M
Far-Eastern Curlew - Numenius madagascariensis V
Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa V
Hudsonian Godwit - Limosa haemastica V
Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica V
Marbled Godwit - Limosa fedoa V
Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres M
Red Knot - Calidris canutus V
Sanderling - Calidris alba M
Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla V
Western Sandpiper - Calidris mauri M
Rufous-necked Stint - Calidris ruficollis M
Little Stint - Calidris minuta V
Long-toed Stint - Calidris subminuta V
Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla M
Baird's Sandpiper - Calidris bairdii V
Pectoral Sandpiper - Calidris melanotos M
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - Calirdis acuminata M
Dunlin - Calidris alpina M
Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea V
Stilt Sandpiper - Micropalama himantopus V
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Tryngites subruficollis V
Ruff - Philomachus pugnax M
Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus M
Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus V
Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata M
Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago M/V
Pin-tailed Snipe - Gallinago stenura V

PHALAROPES: Phalaropodinae

Wilson's Phalarope - Phalaropus tricolor M
Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus V
Red Phalarope - Phalaropus fulicarius M

LARIDAE

SKUAS: Stercoraridae

South Polar Skua - Catharacta maccormicki V
Pomarine Jaeger - Stercorarius pomarinus M
Parasitic Jaeger - Stercorarius parasiticus V
Long-tailed Jaeger - Stercorarius longicaudus V

GULLS: Larinae

Laughing Gull - Larus atricilla M
Franklin's Gull - Larus pipixcan M
Common Black-headed Gull - Larus ridibundus V
Bonaparte's Gull - Larus philadelphia M
Mew Gull - Larus brachyrhynchus V
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis M
California Gull - Larus californicus V
American Herring Gull - Larus smithsonianus M
Vega Gull - Larus vegae V
Slaty-backed Gull - Larus schistisagus V
Western Gull - Larus occidentalis V
Glaucous-winged Gull - Larus glaucescens M
Glaucous Gull - Larus hyperboreus V
Sabine's Gull - Larus sabini V
Black-legged Kittiwake - Rissa tridactyla V

TERNS: Sternidae

Gull-billed Tern - Sterna nilotica V
Caspian Tern - Sterna caspia V
Elegant Tern - Sterna elegans V
Crested Tern - Sterna bergii V
Sandwich Tern - Sterna sandvicensis V
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo M/V
Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea M
Little Tern - Sterna albifrons V(B)
Least Tern - Sterna antillarum M(B)
Grey-backed Tern - Sterna lunata I
Sooty Tern - Sterna fuscata I
Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida V
Black Tern - Chlidonias niger V
Brown Noddy - Anous stolidus I
Black Noddy - Anous minutus melanogenys I
Blue-grey Noddy - Procelsterna cerulea I
White Tern - Gygis alba I

AUKS, MURRES and PUFFINS: Alcidae

Cassin's Auklet - Ptychoramphus aleuticus V
Parakeet Auklet - Aethia psittacula V
Horned Puffin - Fratercula corniculata V
Tufted Puffin - Fratercula cirrhata V

INCERTAESEDIS

SANDGROUSE: Pteroclididae

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse - Pterocles exustus IN

COLUMBIFORMES

PIGEONS and DOVES: Columbidae

Rock Dove - Columba livia IN
Spotted Dove - Streptopeia chinensis IN
Zebra Dove - Geopelia striata IN
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura IN

PSITTACIFORMES

PARROTS and PARAKEETS: Psittacidae

Psittacinae

Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri IN

Arinae

Mitred Conure - Aratinga mitrata IN
Red-masked Conure - Aratinga erythrogenys IN
Patagonian Conure - Cyanoliseus patagonus IN
Red-Crowned Amazon - Amazona viridigenalis IN

CUCULIFORMES

CUCKOOS: Cuculidae

Common Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus V

NEW WORLD CUCKOOS: Coccyzidae

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus V

STRIGIFORMES

BARN OWLS: Tytonidae

Barn-Owl - Tyto alba IN

TRUE OWLS: Strigidae

Short-eared Owl - Asio flammeus sandwichensis I

CAPRIMULGIFORMES

NIGHTJARS: Carprimulgidae

Common Nighthawk - Chordeiles minor V

APODIFORMES

SWIFTS: Apodidae

Chaeturinae

Mariana Swiftlet - Aerodramus bartschi IN

Apodinae

Pacific Swift - Apus pacificus V

CORACIIFORMES

KINGFISHERS: Alcedinidae

Belted Kingfisher - Ceryle alcyon V

PASSERIFORMES

CROWS and JAYS: Corvidae

Hawaiian Crow ('Alala) - Corvus hawaiiensis E
MONARCH FLYCATCHERS: Monarchidae

Kaua'i 'Elepaio - Chasiempis sandwichensis sclateri E
O'ahu 'Elepaio - Chasiempis sandwichensis gayi E
Hawai'i 'Elepaio - Chasiempis sandwichensis sandwichensis E
LARKS: Alaudidae

Eurasian Sky Lark - Alauda arvensis IN
SWALLOWS and MARTINS: Hirundinidae

Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica V
BULBULS: Pycnonotidae

Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer IN
Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosu IN
OLD WORLD WARBLERS: Sylviidae

Japanese Bush-Warbler - Cettia diphone IN
Nihoa Millerbird - Acrocephalus familiaris kingi E
Laysan Millerbird - Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris E
THRUSHES: Turdidae

White-rumped Shama - Copsychus malabaricus IN
Oma`o - Myadestes obscurus E
Puaiohi - Myadestes palmeri E
Eye-browed Thrush - Turdus obscurus V
BABBLERS: Timaliidae

Greater Necklaced Laughing-Thrush - Garrulax pectoralis IN
Grey-sided Laughing-Thrush - Garrulax caerulatus IN
Melodious Laughing-Thrush (Hwamei) - Garrulax canorus IN
Red-billed Leiothrix - Leiothrix lutea IN
WHITEEYES: Zosteropidae

Japanese White-eye - Zosterops japonica IN
THRASHERS: Mimidae

Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos IN
STARLINGS: Sturnidae

European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris V
Common Myna - Acridotheres tristis IN
PIPITS: Motacillidae

Red-throated Pipit - Anthus cervinus V
Olive-backed Pipit - Anthus hodgsoni V
Asian Buff-bellied Pipit - Anthus rubescens japonicus V
BUNTINGS, SPARROWS AND ALLIES: Emberizidae

Yellow-faced Grassquit - Tiaris olivacea IN
Saffron Finch - Sicalis flaveola IN
Red-crested Cardinal - Paroaria coronata IN
Yellow-billed Cardinal - Paroaria capitata IN
Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis V
Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis V
BUNTINGS AND GROSBEAKS: Cardinalidae

Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis IN
TROUPIALS and ALLIES: Icteridae

Western Meadowlark - Sturnella neglecta IN
Great-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus V
FRINGILID FINCHES: Fringillidae

House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus IN
Common Redpoll - Carduelis flammea V
Yellow-fronted Canary - Serinus mozambicus IN
Common Canary - Serinus canaria IN
HAWAIIAN HONEYCREEPERS: Drepanididae

Nihoa Finch - Telespiza ultima E
Laysan Finch - Telespiza cantans E
Palila - Loxioides bailleui E
Maui Parrotbill - Pseudonestor xanthophrys E
O`ahu `Amakihi - Hemignathus chloris E
Hawai'i `Amakihi - Hemignathus virens E
Kaua'i `Amakihi - Hemignathus kauaiensis E
`Anianiau - Hemignathus parvus E
`Akiapola`au - Hemignathus munroi E
'Akikiki (Kaua'i Creeper) - Oreomystis bairdi E
Hawai'i Creeper - Oreomystis mana E
O'ahu Creeper - Paroreomyza maculata E (Ex?)
Maui `Alauahio (Maui Creeper) - Paroreomyza montana E
Hawai'i `Akepa - Loxops coccineus coccineus E
Maui 'Akepa - Loxops coccineus ochracea E
`Akeke`e - Loxops caeruleirostris E
I`iwi - Vestiaria coccinea E
`Akohekohe - Palmaria dolei E
`Apapane - Himatone sanguinea E
Po`ouli - Melamprosops phaeosoma E
WEAVERS and ALLIES: Ploceidae

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus IN
WAXBILLS and ALLIES: Estrildidae

Red-cheeked Cordonbleu - Uraeginthus bengalus IN
Lavender Waxbill - Estrilda caerulescans IN
Orange-cheeked Waxbill - Estrilda melpoda IN
Black-rumped Waxbill - Estrilda troglodytes IN
Common Waxbill - Estrilda astrild IN
Red Avadavat - Amandava amandava IN
African Silverbill - Lonchura cantans IN
Nutmeg Mannikin - Lonchura punctulata IN
Chestnut Munia - Lonchura atricapilla IN
Java Sparrow - Padda oryzivora IN

Extinct Hawai'ian Endemic Species (since 1800 a.d.)

Hawaiian Rail - Porzana sandwichensis Ex
Laysan Rail - Porzana palmeri Ex
Laysan Millerbird - Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris Ex
`Amaui (O`ahu Thrush) - Myadestes oahuensis Ex
Lana`i `Olomao (Lana`i Thrush) - Myadestes lanaiensis lanaiensis Ex
Kama'o - Myadestes myadestes E
Oloma'o - Myadestes lanaiensis E
Kaua'i O'o - Moho braccatus E
O`ahu `O`o - Moho apicalis Ex
Bishop's `O`o - Moho bishopi Ex
Hawai`i `O`o - Moho nobilis Ex
Kioea - Chaetoptila angustipluma Ex
Lana`i Hookbill - Dysmorodrepanis munroi Ex
O'u - Psittirostra psittacea E
Lesser Koa-Finch - Rhodacanthis flaviceps Ex
Greater Koa-Finch - Rhodocanthis palmeri Ex
Kona Grosbeak - Chloridops kona Ex
Nukupu`u - Hemignathus lucidus E
Greater `Amakihi - Hemignathus sagittirostris Ex
Greater `Akialoa - Hemignathus ellisianus Ex
Lesser `Akialoa - Hemignathus obscurus Ex
O`ahu Nukupu`u - Hemignathus lucidus lucidus Ex
O`ahu `Alauahio - Paroreomyza maculata Ex
Lana`i `Alauahio (Lana'i Creeper) - Paroreomyza montana montana Ex
Kakawahie (Moloka'i Creeper) - Paroreomyza flammea Ex
O`ahu `Akepa - Loxops coccineus wolstenholmei Ex
`Ula-`ai-hawane - Ciridops anna Ex
Hawai`i Mamo - Drepanis pacifica Ex
Black Mamo - Drepanis funerea Ex
Laysan Honeycreeper - Himatione sanguinea freethii Ex
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Other species, escapes and deliberate releases, are often seen in the wild in Hawai'i, particularly Parrots (Psittacidae), and in time these species may produce self-sustaining permanent populations. Some species such as Varied Tit and Pin-tailed Wydah became established in the wild but have since become extinct as breeding species (and are not included in the above list, but are included in the Complete Annotated List to Hawai'i's Birds). It is possible for almost any species to escape and become established in the wild if the correct habitat conditions and food sources are available.

A few species have only been recorded as dead specimens or tidal corpses, such as Pacific Swift and Falcated Duck and some of the Auklets/Puffins. The Swifts arrived aided by aeroplane but did not survive the journey and the Auklets/Puffins were part of wrecks of birds which washed up on Hawaiian shores, and although some survived a short time most were in a moribund state.

Hawaiian Petrel. Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Downloadable Lists

State List - Blank Checklist for addition of Sightings (Spreadsheet)

State List (AOU) - Simple Species List with Scientific Names and Hawaiian Occurrence (as above State List) starting with Ducks and Gallinaceous Birds (Word Document)

State List (Traditional) - Simple Species List with Scientific Names and Hawaiian Occurrence (as above State List) starting with Grebes and Divers (Loons) (Word Document)

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©Birding Hawaii 2003