Hawaii is home to a diverse range of birds that come from all over the world. Even though Hawaii is an American state, the majority of the birds found here can also be found throughout North America.
How Many Different Species Of Wild Birds Are In Hawaii?
According to Wikipedia, 337 species of wild birds are listed on the official state list. It is interesting to note that only 64 are thought to be native to Hawaii and 130 were introduced or migrated into the state in a way, and 52 species were introduced by humans.
Today, a lot of native Hawiian species are found in isolated forests and mountainous regions, whereas the species that are common in the developed areas have been introduced or accidentally.
The beloved backyard birdlife of Hawaii are an absolute delight and because of the uniqueness of the habitat and low number of species, we’re going to alter the style of the article for the state.
Instead of breaking them down by season like we did in the previous article. In this article, we’ll examine backyard birds found in Hawaii along with detailed details of the top 15 backyard birds in Hawaii.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Hawaii for birding, this are the list of birds to watch out for this list of birds.
There are many factors that can impact the birds you will find in your backyard. A few of these factors include whether you’re located in a “wet or dry” side of the island, the distance to the coastline or forests, as well as the kind of trees and plants there are in your area.
1. WARBLING WHITE-EYE
WARBLING WHITE-EYE
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A bird with a variety of names The warbling white-eye is sometimes referred to as Japanese white-eye as well as mountains white-eye.
They’re olive-yellow that has a buffy belly however, the most noticeable distinctive feature is their distinct eye-ring that is white.
The birds spend the majority times in trees, usually in groups. Their diet is composed of fruit insects, nectar and insects. This species is native to Asia but came into O’ahu at the time of 1929.
The population exploded and is now considered to be one of the largest terrestrial birds of Hawaii. They are now seen throughout all Hawaiian islands.
2. COMMON MYNA
COMMON MYNA
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Common mynas are a large size bird that has brown body and a black head. It also has a yellow beak , and the eye patch in yellow.
They also have white stripes on their wing that can only be seen when it is extended. Mynas can make a variety of sounds and are historically well-known cage birds due to its “singing and speaking” ability.
They are foragers and eat all sorts of things, including seeds, insects, grains, fruits, reptiles, and even human waste. In the world, they are regarded as dangerously extinct, quickly settling in every new place they are introduced to , and surpassing native species.
Unfortunately , this is the situation in Hawaii where they’re abundant across all islands.
3. JAVA SPARROW
Java Sparrow
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The finch family is distinct with its distinctive pink bill. They sport chests and bodies that are gray with a brownish-pink belly, pink legs and a head that is black with a white cheek patch as well as a eyes with a red rim.
Java sparrows can be seen as social bird species that hunt and gather in large groups to roost. They eat mostly grains and seeds that they can break off with ease using their large beak.
Actually, they are considered to be a danger to agriculture in certain countries because of its consumption of rice. Java Sparrows were originally found in Bali in Indonesia and Indonesia and were later introduced to Hawaii.
Nowadays, they are present on all Hawaiian Islands.
4. HOUSE FINCH
House Finch
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The House Finch is a common bird found throughout the United States. The House Finch was originally found in the western part of North America but quickly spread and then they were brought to Hawaii around the mid 1800s.
Males tend to be streaked with by white and brown, with red on their chest and head, whereas females are not red.
They can be seen across all of the main island, however they tend to favor the more leeward (dry portion) on the main island. They will often visit garden seeders.
5. NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
Northern Mockingbird
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The name “mockingbird” comes from their ability to imitate the song of different species of bird. It is believed that male mockingbirds can learn more than 200 songs during its lifetime.
These songbirds that are medium-sized tend to be gray, with large white spots on their wings as well as their outer tails, which are difficult to spot when they’re flying.
They’re usually found in tall bushes and may frequently be very aggressive towards the birds that invade their territory. The northern mockingbird was introduced into Hawaii in 1928 to combat the pests (which they consume). They prefer the drier areas of Hawaii, specifically those where the Kiawe tree grows.
6. RED-CRESTED CARDINAL
RED-CRESTED CARDINAL
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Although they’re not listed as such and sporting the same red crest as Northern cardinals, the red-crested bird is actually part of the family of tanagers.
They originate from South America in places like Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay. Red-crested cardinals are difficult to distinguish from the “colorblock” gray back, white belly , and red head.
They are common across the islands, though they are rarer in islands like the Big Island. Red-crested cardinals are regular visitors to beaches and parks.
7. HOUSE SPARROW
House Sparrow
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They are generally viewed as pests, the houses sparrows are one of the few wild bird species within the continent of U.S. besides starlings that are not covered under those protections of the birds act.
Apart from being an invading species which has spread to every continent, they are also aggressive toward other birds, and are known to infest or destroy nests of native birds.
House sparrows are predominantly brown, but they also have the occasional streak of brown and black on their wings and a buffy chests. Males wear an black throat and mask.
They are extremely at ease in urban environments and are among the most frequently observed bird in cities and surrounding people. They can be seen across all islands. The sparrows are a nuisance when dining outdoors.
8. ZEBRA DOVE
Zebra dove
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The zebra dove, which is native to the southeast of Asia came in Hawaii in 1922. It quickly colonized all islands.
They’re comfortable with people and can be seen in outdoor eateries and in parks, looking for food scraps.
They are grayish-brown with large barring on their breasts and back. They also have pale blue skin around their eyes that are ringed. It is found across all Hawaiian islands.
9. NORTHERN CARDINAL
Nothern_Cardinal_(Redbird)
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Northern Cardinals are among the most well-known and popular backyard birds of North America.
Males are bright red with bright feathers as well as a black mask. females are duller and are more light brown with a little reddish color.
Males and females are easily identified due to the appearance of their “mohawks” and reddish orange beaks. They were first introduced in 1929. They’re now found in all Hawaiian islands. They are awe-inspiring sunflower seeds.
10. RED-BILLED LEIOTHRIX
RED-BILLED LEIOTHRIX
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The dazzling red-billed leiothrix comes from Asia. It can be called a variety of names, including Chinese hill robin Pekin Robin Pekin nightingale Japanese nightingale, and Japanese hill robin.
You can spot the distinctive red throat, yellow bill as well as yellow and orange streaked wings. When you angle them right, there is also blue on their tips as well as at the end the tail.
They are known to chat quite loudly and some say it’s like they’re in a scolding mood towards humans who pass along.
The red-billed leiothrix is found in the forest’s understory and is known to enjoy eating fruits moths, bees, moths and Mollusks. The species was introduced into Hawaii in 1918.
They can be found in islands like the Big Island, Oahu, Moloka’i and Maui in forests. There is a lesser number of them on Kauai and there are no sightings on Lani.
11. ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET
ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET
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The rose-ringed parrot is a medium-sized member of the family of parrots, indigenous in Africa in the middle of Africa and India.
They’ve been historically an extremely popular pet and have been introduced to many areas of the globe where they have managed to escape from confinement. Their favorite food is fruits, seeds, nuts and berries.
They are often seen in garden areas and feeders for birds. They’re generally light green, with darker green tips on their wings with a long tail and a rosy-pink beak, which has a sharp downward curve.
Their green coloration makes them blend into the lush trees. Although there have been occasional sightings of other islands primary population is seen located on Oahu along with Kauai.
However, they consume a lot of food crops grown by humans and result in losses to small farms, in particular on Kauai.
12. SPOTTED DOVE
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The dove with spotted stripes is a common sight in Hawaii for quite some time after being brought over to Hawaii from Asia around 1800.
The other names they’re commonly referred to as include pearl-necked dove, mountain dove dove and lace-necked. They’re a tawny brown in all areas with a grayish tint to their head and legs in pink.
The only thing that is distinctive is a dark spot which extends across the neck on both sides and is covered in white spots. As with many doves, they prefer parks and open fields, and are often located near people’s activities. They are found throughout the islands, but especially on the coast.
13. WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA
White Rumped Shama
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White-rumped shama’s originate from India and the southeast of Asia. It is believed that they were brought to Kauai around 1931, from Malaysia and then to Oahu in the year 1940.
On Kauai, they prefer to be found in valley forests or in the ridges of the Ko’olaus range. Males are black, with chestnut-colored belly and a white patches above the tail.
Females are similarly colored, however they are lighter in hue and appear to be brown. Shama’s are renowned for their gorgeous song and are often kept as pets in captivity due to their ability to sing.
While they’re still mostly located around Kauai and Oahu however, they have been seen at Molokai, Lanai and northern Maui.
14. RED-VENTED BULBUL
RED-VENTED bulbul
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The bulbul with red-vented eyes is indigenous in The Indian subcontinent. They consume fruits, flowers petals nectar, insects and, occasionally, tiny lizards.
The red-vented bulbuls are characterized by a light brown body, and a black head with a tiny crest. Their name comes due to the bright red spot located just beneath the tail, and is usually concealed.
However, they are regarded as an invasion pest throughout Hawaii and their passion for eating flowers causes a series of destruction to orchids as well as other agricultural crops.
They are found in huge quantities only on Oahu and the state government is asking everyone on the islands to report sightings and is working to stop the spread of these pests.
15. COMMON WAXBILL
Common Waxbill
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The adorable little common waxbill is that is native to south Africa. They have a light gray body that is covered with thin bars with a red beak, eye mask that is red, as well as an unassuming breast that has a rosy belly.
The first reports of them were made in Hawaii in the latter part of the 1970s there were sightings across the entire islands, with the exception of Molokai as well as Lanai.
You can spot them eating seeds that are in fields of grass or weeds. They are often seen in large groups in urban areas.