The 16 Endemic Birds of Oahu
Nene (Hawaiian Goose)Branta sandvicensis
The Nene is the state bird of Hawaii !
Range: Varies depending on the location of release sites of captive bred Habitat: Frequent scrubland, grassland, golf courses, sparsely vegetated slopes slopes Diet: Seeds of grasses and herbs, as well as leaves, buds, flowers and fruits of various plants Threats: habitat loss and alteration, predation by humans and the invasive small Indian mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus, dogs, cats, pigs and rats; disease and parasites, inbreeding depression, loss of adaptive skills in captive bred birds and dietry deficiencies, drought |
Hawaiian DuckAnas wyvilliana
Range: hard to identify the distribution and abundance of the species because of difficulties in distinguishing hybrids
Habitat: lowland wetlands, river valleys, and mountain streams Diet: mollusks, insects, and freshwater vegetation Threats: nest predation by rats, mongooses, domestic dogs and cats, introduced fish and birds, habitat loss for agriculture and urban development, and local hunting pressure, hybridisation with feral A. platyrhynchos |
Laysan DuckAnas laysanensis
Range: only found on Laysan Island and Midway Atoll NWR
Habitat: Differs throughout the day: Day time - dense cover and hides in terrestrial vegetarian Evening/Night - Central hyper-saline lake on Laysan, but concentrates near freshwater seeps around the shore Diet: Invertebrates, grass and sadge seeds and some algae Threats: Random disasters and the limited carrying capacity of the fragile tiny islands are the main threats.introductions of rabbits and more recently the parasitic nematode Echinuria uncinata, coupled with drought |
Hawaiian Coot
Fulica alaiRange: Distributed throughout island
Habitat: fresh and brackish-water marshes, estuaries, and ponds Diet: seeds and leaves of aquatic plants, insects, tadpoles and small fish Threats: loss of habitat for cultivation and developments, invasive species such as the black rat Rattus rattus, brown rat Rattus norwegicus, domestic cats and dogs, small Asian mongoose Herpestes javanicus and Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis |
Oahu AmakihiHemignathus flavusRange: Two mountain ranges in the Wai’anae Mountains, although it has apparently adapted to non-native habitats
Habitat: most abundant in native forests, particularly koa trees Diet: small insects and other arthropods Threats: feral ungulates and introduced predators; disease spread by mosquitos |
AkepaLoxops coccineusRange: unknown; populations are gradually decreasing and it is not being reintroduced at a quick rate
Habitat: wet and mesic forest, primarily koa-’ohi’ Diet: small insects and spiders and forages in the foliage of ‘ohi’a trees Threats: loss of habitat to logging and agriculture and by commensal animals |
IiwiVestiaria coccineaRange: Extinct on Lana’i, with only relict populations on O’ahu and Moloka’i; most common on Maui and Hawai’i; Little quantitative data for projected western Hawai’i areas
Habitat: Formerly found in forests at any elevation and still occurs in a variety of native disturbed and unnatural habitats Diet: nectar, but feeds on many insects and spiders as well Threats: very susceptible to avian malaria; habitat degradation and predation by introduced mammals such as cattle, pigs, cats and rats |
ApapaneHimatione sanguineaRange: locally common at higher elevations on O'ahu and on the islands Hawai'i, Maui, Kaua'i
Habitat: native mesic and wet forests above about 1,250 m elevation Diet: primarily nectarivorous, but occasionally take insects and spiders, especially when feeding their young; Metrosideros polymorpha flowers Threats: seasonal and patchy distribution of ' ōhi'a flowering have important implications for disease transmission because it is a primary carrier of avian malaria and avian pox in Hawai'i |
Oahu ElepaioChasiempis ibidisRange: the Ko`olau and Wai`anae mountains on Oahu
Habitat: most abundant in mesic forest in valleys (VanderWerf et al. 2001), preferring mixed-species forest with a tall canopy and well-developed understorey, at 200-800 m Diet: feeds on insects and other invertebrates Threats: habitat loss to development has been extensive, with 56% of its former range zoned for agricultural or urban development and avian pox/malaria |
Laysan AlbatrossPhoebastria immutabilisRange: range across the northern Pacific Ocean from about the latitude of Costa Rica to the Aleutian Islands and southern Bering Sea; can be seen nesting at Ka’ena Point
Habitat: spend most of their time on the open Pacific Ocean, spanning tropical waters Diet: eat mainly squid as well as fish eggs, crustaceans, floating carrion, and some discards from fishing boats Threats: longline fishing, plastic trash in the ocean, and predation by dogs, rats, and catsongline fishing, plastic trash in the ocean, and predation by dogs, rats, and cats |
Black-footed AlbatrossPhoebastria nigripesRange: wanders widely across the northern Pacific and nests on the sandy areas of Hawaiian islands
Habitat: open ocean Diet: flying fish eggs; also squid, adult flying fish, and crustaceans, as well as scraps thrown from ship Threats: drift nets and oil pollution |
Hawaiian Petrel
Pterodroma sandwichensisRange: breeds on Hawaiian Islands, lots on Maui
Habitat: open Pacific seas Diet: feed on squid, fish, and crustaceans and pass food to chicks by regurgitation Threats: harvesting by Polynesians and nesting habitat has since been lost to urbanisation and degraded by feral goats and pigs |
Bonin PetrelPterodroma hypoleucaRange: disperses widely over the subtropical north Pacific, nesting on the Bonin and Volcano Island (Japan) and on the western Hawaiian Islands (USA)
Habitat: open ocean Diet: eats small planktonic animals, usually landing on the surface to feed Threats: predation by rats and cats |
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusRange: across North America, South America, Eurasia, and Hawaiian Islands; on Oahu, nesting on the ground near towns
Habitat: open grasslands, including prairie, meadows, tundra, moorlands, marshes, savanna, and open woodland Diet: small mammals, sometimes birds; Kills prey with a bite to the back of the skull; often swallows prey whole. Threats: Loss and alteration of habitat |