Home > Species > Birds SPECIES - BIRDS White Tailed Tropic Bird - Photo: E VanderWerf SELECTED BIRDS FOUND ON HAWAII’S OFFSHORE ISLETS The following list highlights some of the most common bird species, especially seabirds, found in Hawaii’s offshore islets. There are, however, several species not included on this list. Each species is classified as either endemic, indigenous, or introduced. These terms are defined as follows: Endemic: Native only to Hawaii Indigenous: Native to Hawaii and also other locations outside the state Introduced: Non-native species brought by humans either intentionally or accidentally Black (Hawaiian) Noddy or Noio Anous minutus melanogenys Endemic subspecies Black Noddy - Photo: E VanderWerf   The Hawaiian subspecies of Black Noddy is endemic to the main Hawaiian Islands, with A. m. marcusi occurring in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands east of Nihoa. Hawaiian Noddies nest from March-August along rocky coasts of the main islands and on several offshore islets. Nests are usually located in sea caves or on high ledges. Hawaiian Noddies can be distinguished from Brown Noddies by their smaller size, gray rump, whiter cap, and longer, thinner bill. Hawaiian Noddies often forage closer to shore than Brown Noddies. Brown Noddy or Noio Koha Anous stolidus Indigenous Brown Noddy - Photo: E VanderWerf   Brown Noddies are common in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and also nest on several of the offshore islets, including Kaula, Moku Manu, Manana, and Mokolea. They were extirpated from Lehua Islet, probably by predation from introduced Barn Owls. Noddies feed by diving for small fish. They often prey on the same fish as aku (skipjack tuna), and can be used to find tuna schools, leading to the common name “aku bird”. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Introduced Cattle Egret - Photo: USFWS   Cattle Egrets were intentionally introduced to Hawaii in 1959 to control pest insects. They are prolific, common in many areas of the main islands and nest in large rookeries. In addition to eating insects, they prey on young birds and eggs of native bird species and compete for nest space. They are a hazard to seabird populations on offshore islets like Lehua, where they have already established colonies. Bulwer's Petrel or Ou Bulweria bulwerii Indigenous Bulwers Petrel - Photo: E VanderWerf   This small seabird is found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and on some of the offshore islets, particularly Lehua, several islets around Oahu, and Molokini, but it is not often seen due to its nocturnal habits. A single egg is usually laid in a small rock crevice. This species is still numerous on some remote islands like Nihoa, but its small size makes it particularly vulnerable to predation by rats and Barn Owls, and it has disappeared from several islets where rats have been introduced. It is hoped that removal of introduced rats and Barn Owls from Lehua will allow the numbers of this species to increase there. Bulwer’s Petrels will often respond to an imitation of their soft, barking call. Great Frigatebird or Iwa Fregata minor Indigenous Great Frigatebird - Photo: B Flint   Frigatebirds roost on several of the offshore islets, including Lehua, Moku Manu, and Molokini, and can be seen flying high in the sky almost anywhere in the main islands, but they are not known to nest on any of them. Frigatebirds have tiny feet and can barely walk on land, but in the air they are graceful and acrobatic. As their name suggests, frigatebirds obtain food by piracy- chasing down other seabirds and forcing them to relinquish their catch. White Tern or Manu o Ku Gygis alba Indigenous White Tern - Photo: D Ledig   This graceful seabird is common in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and in the main islands it occurs in urban and suburban areas around Honolulu. It prefers to nest in trees, which are scarce on the offshore islands, and thus does not occur on any of the offshore islets. Red-tailed Tropicbird or Koae Ula Phaethon rubricauda Indigenous Red-tailed Tropicbird - Photo: E VanderWerf   This species is common on most of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and smaller populations occur near Kilauea Point, Kauai, Manana Islet off Oahu and Paokalani Islet off Hawaii. A single egg is laid in a small cave, under a ledge, or under dense vegetation. Tropicbirds dive to catch small fish and squid. The thin red tail streamers of this species are difficult to see at a distance, when its unmarked white back and wings are the best field mark. Black-footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes Indigenous Black Footed Albatross - Photo: E VanderWerf   Almost all of these albatross are found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and rarely around the main Hawaiian Islands. Lehua Islet supports the only nesting colony in the main islands, consisting of about 20 pairs. The status of a reported nesting colony on Kaula Islet requires verification. Due to its restricted breeding distribution and relatively small global population size of approximately 50,000 pairs, the Black-footed Albatross is regarded as a species of conservation concern by the USFWS (2002) and as endangered by the IUCN (2003). Adults return to nesting colonies in November, eggs are laid in December, chicks hatch after an incubation period of approximately 60 days, and fledge in June. This species forages mostly at night, and feeds on fish, squid, and flying fish eggs. Females lay a single egg each year, and may not nest in some years. Laysan Albatross or Moli Phoebastria immutabilis Indigenous Species of Concern Laysan Albatross - Photo: C Swenson   This species is found almost entirely in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where there are more than 300,000 breeding pairs. It is uncommon at sea around the main Hawaiian Islands, with small nesting colonies at Kaena Point (Oahu), Kilauea Point (Kauai), Lehua Islet, and possibly Kaula Islet. The Laysan Albatross went through a severe population decline and was extirpated from several breeding islands in the early 1900s due to feather collecting. In the last 20 years, small population increases have occurred at Kilauea Point and Kaena Point and new breeding colonies have been established recently in the Ogasawara Islands near Japan and on islands off the west coast of Mexico. Nesting occurs slightly later than in Black-footed Albatross, with some young birds not fledging until July. Albatross have a long lifespan (up to 50 years) and do not begin breeding until at least six years of age. Females lay a single egg each year, and may not nest in some years. Newell's Shearwater or Ao Puffinus auricularis newelli Endemic Threatened Sub-species Newells Shearwater - Photo: B Flint   This endemic subspecies is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Most of the population nests on steep, densely vegetated mountain slopes and steep cliffs on Kauai, with smaller number on the Big Island and possibly Molokai. Birds return to nesting areas in April to find mates and select nest sites. Birds leave for most of May to forage at sea, then return to lay their single egg in June. The parents incubate in alternating shifts until the egg hatches after about 51 days. Chicks fledge from late October-November, when they can become disoriented by streetlights and other bright lights. Fledglings may circle these lights until they strike a building, utility line, or some other obstacle, or become exhausted and fall to the ground, where they are vulnerable to predation by dogs and cats, and being run over by vehicles on roadways. Most streetlights on Kauai have been fitted with shields to direct light downward and reduce light pollution. A few pairs nest on Lehua Islet. It is hoped that efforts to remove introduced rats and Barn Owls from Lehua will allow the number of Newell’s Shearwaters to increase. Wedge-tailed Shearwater or Uau Kani Puffinus pacificus Indigenous Wedge tailed Shearwater - Photo: D Ledig   This is the most widespread seabird in the Hawaiian Islands, with nesting colonies on all of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, many of the offshore islets in the main islands, and even on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui in small numbers. Birds return to nesting areas in late March and April to find mates and select nest sites. Nests are located in underground burrows, rock crevices, small caves, or under dense vegetation such as naupaka. Birds leave for most of May to forage at sea, then return to lay their single egg in June. The parents incubate in alternating shifts until the egg hatches after about 53 days. Young birds fledge in late October-early December. As with Newell’s Shearwater, fledglings are attracted and disoriented by street lights and other bright lights. This “fall out” problem is particularly severe in the Waimanalo area on Oahu, directly inshore from Manana and the Mokulua Islets, which support large nesting colonies. Lights in coastal areas of Oahu should be shielded to prevent light pollution and potential harm to seabirds. The weight of a human can crush shearwater burrows, killing or trapping the bird and/or its egg, so people should avoid walking through nesting colonies. White-tailed Tropicbird or Koae Kea Phaethon lepturus Indigenous White Tailed Tropic Bird - Photo: E VanderWerf   This species can be seen easily in Waimea Canyon, Kalalau Lookout, and Kilauea Point on Kauai, and in Waimanalo and Mokuleia on Oahu, and is rarely seen on the offshore islets. It can be distinguished from the large Red-tailed Tropicbird by its white tail and black marks on the back and wings. Masked Booby or A Sula dactylatra Indigenous Masked Booby family - Photo: E VanderWerf   This is the rarest of the three booby species in Hawaii. The only currently confirmed nesting colony is on Moku Manu Islet off the windward coast of Oahu, where there are about 20 pairs, but it may also occur on Kaula. It can be distinguished from the more common Red-footed Booby by its larger size, black tail, more extensive black coloration on the wings, and its dark face or mask. The Masked Booby usually forages far out at sea and is not often seen from land except near breeding colonies. Brown Booby or A Sula leucogaster Indigenous Brown Booby family - Photo: E VanderWerf   Brown Boobies are commonly seen on the coasts and at sea off the main Hawaiian Islands, but most of these are probably non-breeding birds. The only nesting colonies in the main islands are located on Kaula (although this requires confirmation), Lehua, and Moku Manu. Males have a bluish face and a high-pitched call, while females have a greenish-yellow face and a deeper, honking call. One to three eggs are laid in a nest on the ground. Nests often contain fresh green vegetation, which may help control parasites. All boobies catch fish by spectacular head-first dives from up to 100 feet high. Red-footed Booby or A Sula sula Indigenous Red-Footed Booby - Photo: E VanderWerf   Red-footed boobies are common on several of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Three large colonies occur in the main islands, on Kaula (probably), Lehua, Kilauea Point, Kauai, and Mokapu Peninsula, Oahu. Unlike other boobies, the Red-footed prefers to nest in vegetation a few feet off the ground. Young birds are a mottled brownish and white, but can be distinguished from Brown Boobies because they lack the sharp line on the belly separating the brown and white. Sooty Tern or Ewa ewa Sterna fuscata Indigenous Sooty Tern - Photo: E VanderWerf   This is one of the most abundant seabirds in the world, with some colonies containing over a million birds. In the offshore islets, colonies are found on Kaula (historically reported to support 15,000 birds), Manana (50,000 birds) and Moku Manu (30,000 birds). Sooty Terns are highly gregarious and colonies and densely packed, with nests separated only by pecking distance. Terns are sensitive and may abandon nests in response to human disturbance. Barn Owl Tyto alba Introduced Barn Owl - Photo: USFWS   Barn Owls were intentionally introduced to Hawaii starting in the late 1950s for rodent control. Unlike the endemic Short-eared Owl (Pueo), Barn Owls hunt at night. Biologists visiting Hawaii’s offshore islets commonly report finding carcasses of small seabirds, such as Bulwer’s Petrels and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, which have been partially eaten by Barn Owls. They are a significant predator of seabirds in some areas. > Back to top of page Home  Islets  Species  Projects  Outreach  Links  About Us