Oahu, the third largest island in Hawaii, is widely known for its diverse ecosystem and breathtaking landscapes. One of the most fascinating components of this ecosystem is the birdlife that calls the island home.
Despite being one of the most urbanized areas in Hawaii, Oahu provides a haven for an array of bird species that are native to the area or have been brought in over the years.
From the colorful Hawaiian honeycreeper to the majestic albatross, and from the tiny house finch to the charismatic tropicbird, there is no shortage of avian wonders to discover on this gorgeous island.
This article will provide an overview of the different species that one can encounter on the island of Oahu.
1. Nene
The Nene is a species of bird endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It was given its name ‘nēnē’ due to its soft call and in 1957 it even became the official state bird of Hawaii.
This gorgeous goose can be found exclusively in the wild on islands such as Oahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai and Hawaiʻi.
The Nene has adapted so well to living within these different island environments that they have developed their own distinct subspecies depending on which island they are from.
These birds are an important part of Hawaiian culture, being featured in many stories throughout history where they were often seen as symbols for protection and good luck – making them truly special creatures indeed.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Branta |
| Species | B. sandvicensis |
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2. Black-Necked Stilt
The Black-necked Stilt is an elegant shorebird that can be found from the coastal areas of California to Florida, then south through Central America and Brazil.
It has black upperparts contrasted by long white wings with a glossy sheen. Its striking red eyes are set against its white facial mask while its legs are bright pinkish in coloration.
The Haematopus mexicanus species inhabits marshy wetlands and brackish lagoons where it feeds on insects, crustaceans, small amphibians and fish which they catch using their slender bill or chase after them as they run across the surface of water or mudflats.
This bird typically nests near shallow waters but will use any habitat type if food resources are available nearby making it a highly adaptable species well suited for human altered habitats such as rice fields and sewage ponds.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Recurvirostridae |
| Genus | Himantopus |
| Species | H. mexicanus |
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3. Bonin Petrel
The Bonin Petrel, also known as Nunulu, is a small species of seabird belonging to the family Procellariidae. It typically resides in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and has been poorly studied due to its secretive habits and remote breeding colonies.
The bird was formally described by English naturalist Osbert Salvin in 1888 and can reach lengths up to 11 inches with an average wingspan of 22-26 inches.
Its body is mainly blackish-brown on top while white underneath with a distinctive dark M pattern across its upperparts.
Additionally, it features yellow bill tip which distinguishes it from other petrels within genus Pterodroma.
This unique species feeds largely on crustaceans such as squid or fish that they scavenge at night near surface waters; their diet often consists of carrion too.
As this fascinating bird continues to remain relatively unkown, further research needs to be done in order for us learn more about these elusive creatures.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Genus | Pterodroma |
| Species | P. hypoleuca |
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4. Saffron Finch
The Saffron Finch is a small tanager bird found in South America. This delightful species has an extensive distribution, ranging from Colombia to eastern Brazil and Bolivia.
They inhabit open or semi-open habitats at low elevations outside the Amazon Basin.
With their easily recognizable bright yellow feathers and cheerful song, they are often seen perching on roofs in northern Venezuela where they are referred to as “canario de tejado”.
In southern Brazil these birds are known as “canário-da-terra”, which translates into native canary.
Their diet consists mainly of seeds, grains and insects such as grasshoppers, caterpillars and beetles.
Although not threatened with extinction yet, deforestation may soon reduce their available habitat significantly if measures aren’t taken to conserve it now.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Thraupidae |
| Genus | Sicalis |
| Species | S. flaveola |
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5. Common Waxbill
The Common Waxbill is a beautiful small passerine bird native to sub-Saharan Africa.
It has become popular in captivity and can be found all over the world, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10 million km2.
Its formal description was provided by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 as part of his Systema Naturae; he gave it the scientific name Estrilda astrild.
This species is mainly greyish brown or olive green on its upperparts while having chestnut colored wings and tail feathers which are tipped with white or creamy yellow.
They have red eyes, pink bills and legs, giving them an overall attractive appearance.
The Common waxbill feeds primarily on grass seeds but also takes insects occasionally when available. It breeds readily in aviaries making it a great choice for avid bird keepers.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Estrildidae |
| Genus | Estrilda |
| Species | E. astrild |
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6. Red-Crested Cardinal
The Red-crested Cardinal is a brightly colored songbird belonging to the family of tanagers. It has a vibrant red crest and its name comes from the Tupí people, which means “small red, yellow, and gray bird”.
This species can be found in most parts of South America where it prefers open woodlands or grassy areas near rivers.
Its diet consists mainly of insects but also includes some fruit when available. The Red-crested Cardinal is well known for its melodious songs that are used by males to attract mates during breeding season.
These birds form monogamous pairs with both parents helping out with raising their young until they learn how to fly on their own within 21 days after hatching from eggs in nest made up high trees or bushes.
In recent years there have been reports about population decline due loss habitat caused by deforestation as well as illegal hunting for pet trade business so conservation efforts are necessary in order to protect this beautiful species from extinction.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Thraupidae |
| Genus | Paroaria |
| Species | P. coronata |
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7. Yellow-Fronted Canary
The Yellow-Fronted Canary is a small passerine bird in the finch family, often referred to as “the Green Singing Finch” by aviculturists.
It has bright yellow feathers around its head and face, with greyish-brown wings and tail.
This species was formerly placed within the Serinus genus but analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences revealed this grouping to be polyphyletic; thus it now stands alone in its own genus Crithagra mozambica.
The canary enjoys open woodlands or scrubland habitats where they are able to sing their beautiful songs from dawn until dusk – an activity which also serves as territorial behavior for males during mating season.
In addition, these birds feed on various grains such as grass seeds, buds & shoots of plants or even insects when possible.
With proper care & nutrition these lovely little birds can live up to 8 years making them a delightful pet choice.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily | Carduelinae |
| Genus | Crithagra |
| Species | C. mozambica |
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8. Red-Tailed Tropicbird
The Red-tailed Tropicbird is an exotic seabird found in tropical areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It has a striking appearance, with mostly white feathers and a black mask covering its eyes.
Its bill is bright red, making it stand out against its pale plumage. Both males and females have similar looks to one another – unlike many other birds species where the male looks significantly different from that of the female.
Described by Pieter Boddaert in 1783, this impressive bird can be seen soaring through tropical skies looking for food either alone or within small flocks made up of several individuals at once.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Phaethontiformes |
| Family | Phaethontidae |
| Genus | Phaethon |
| Species | P. rubricauda |
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9. Red-Footed Booby
The Red-footed Booby is a large seabird of the Sulidae family, easily distinguished by its bright red feet. These birds are strong and agile fliers but can be clumsy in takeoffs and landings.
They live mostly in tropical areas and breed colonially on coastal islands all over the world.
The species faces few threats from either nature or humans, however their population has decreased slightly due to disturbances near breeding sites.
Despite this mild decline, they remain an incredibly common sight across many parts of the tropics – so much so that they have become symbolic with island life.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Sulidae |
| Genus | Sula |
| Species | S. sula |
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10. White Tern
The White tern, also known as the common white tern or Fairy Tern, is a small seabird species found across tropical oceans all over the world.
Known for its elegance and beauty by humans and other animals alike, these birds are truly mesmerizing with their snow-white feathers.
They can be seen soaring in high altitudes or circling around ships at sea looking for food. The Hawaiian name ‘manu-o-Kū’ translates to ‘bird of heaven’ which reflects how majestic this bird looks when it flies through the sky.
These lovely creatures often breed on isolated islands away from predators along with another smaller species called Little White Terns (Gygis microrhyncha).Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Gygis |
| Species | G. alba |
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11. Wedge-Tailed Shearwater
The wedge-tailed shearwater is a medium-large seabird found in the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is one of several species referred to as muttonbirds, along with the sooty and short-tailed shearwaters.
These birds have long wings that allow them to soar for extended periods over large bodies of water while searching for food such as fish, squid, crustaceans, cephalopods and other marine invertebrates.
During mating season they nest on islands or small sandy beaches where both parents take turns caring for their chicks until they fledge at around two months old.
Wedge-taileds are an important part of many island cultures who traditionally hunt these birds during certain times of year when populations peak due to migration patterns.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Genus | Ardenna |
| Species | A. pacifica |
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12. Great Frigatebird
The Great Frigatebird is a large seabird found in tropical regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as the South Atlantic.
It can grow up to 105 cm long with black plumage, making it one of the largest frigatebirds around.
The species also exhibits sexual dimorphism; males have bright red throat pouches while females have white or grey ones instead.
These birds nest in colonies on islands or near coastal areas where they feed off fish schools, squid and other marine life that they snatch from their dive-bombing prey.
They are highly adept at soaring for hours above oceanic waters searching for food sources below them before dives down into shallow water to catch unsuspecting meals.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Fregatidae |
| Genus | Fregata |
| Species | F. minor |
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13. Christmas Shearwater
The Christmas Shearwater, also known as ‘Ao’u, is a medium-sized tropical bird found in the Central Pacific.
It belongs to an ancient species of small Puffinus shearwaters and its closest living relative is the Galápagos Shearwater.
Its remote nesting habits make it difficult to study and little information about this mysterious creature has been gathered until now.
The Christmas Shearwater typically flies low over the water at high speeds with quick wing beats, searching for food like fish or jellyfish near the surface of warm waters during night time hours.
These birds are capable of long distance flights that span hundreds if not thousands of miles. With their unique white bellies speckled black feathers on top they really stand out from other aquatic creatures.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Genus | Puffinus |
| Species | P. nativitatis |
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14. Laysan Albatross
The Laysan albatross is a large seabird found in the North Pacific Ocean. Most of its population (99.7%) can be seen residing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where they form strong colonies and thrive among their natural habitat there.
They are small for an albatross but still have distinguishable features such as long wingspans that help them soar gracefully above oceans while searching for food over great distances with ease.
It’s estimated to have 1.18 million birds worldwide and continues to expand or re-expand its range throughout other areas of the oceanic region too.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Diomedeidae |
| Genus | Phoebastria |
| Species | P. immutabilis |
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15. Black-Footed Albatross
The black-footed albatross is a species of large seabird from the Diomedeidae family, found primarily in North Pacific coastal areas.
It is one of three species of northern hemisphere albatrosses and has dark plumage unlike many others.
These birds are mostly located around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands where they nest on isolated tropical islands.
The population numbers have been rapidly declining due to human activities such as fishing nets and plastic waste consumption which affects their food sources.
Conservation efforts must be made to protect these majestic creatures before it’s too late.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Diomedeidae |
| Genus | Phoebastria |
| Species | P. nigripes |
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16. Hawaiian Honeycreeper
The Hawaiian honeycreepers are a unique group of birds native to the Hawaiian Islands. These small passerines have adapted features not seen in any other finch, making them incredibly diverse.
Sadly, since human arrival in Hawaii many species of these beautiful creatures have been driven to extinction due to habitat destruction and competition with invasive species such as rats and mongooses.
However, conservation efforts are ongoing which aim to protect remaining populations from further decline and reintroduce extinct ones back into their former habitats where possible.
With luck we may one day be able to once again see flocks of brilliantly coloured honeycreepers grace Hawaii’s skies.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily | Carduelinae |
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17. Hawaiian Petrel
The Hawaiian petrel, or ʻuaʻu, is an endemic species to Hawai’i. Its striking dark gray-brown and white plumage makes it easily identifiable amidst the other birds of the islands.
It was once found on all main Hawaiian Islands except Niʻihau but has since been mostly restricted to Haleakalā crater on Maui with smaller populations inhabiting Mauna Loa on Hawai’i and Waimea Canyon and Lāna‘ihale on Kaua’i.
This seabird feeds mainly at night by diving into water for small fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans.
The female lays a single egg in burrows located up high in protected mountain slopes where they remain until fledging after 3 months of incubation period by both parents.
To ensure their continued survival these pets are protected from human activities through conservation efforts such as predator control programs that help protect newly hatched young from owls predating them before flight readiness.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Genus | Pterodroma |
| Species | P. sandwichensis |
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18. Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi
Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper belonging to the genus Chlorodrepanis.
It was previously placed in the Hemignathus group, but was reclassified based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences analysis.
The two recognized subspecies are C. v. wilsoni found on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lanai; and C. vvirens occurring throughout Hawai’I Island except for Kona district where it has been extirpated due to habitat destruction from human activities such as urbanization and agriculture development.
The Hawaii amakihinest is mainly in lowland ōhi’a forest dominated by Metrosideros polymorpha trees at elevations up 900-1,800 meters (3,000–6,000 ft).
With its bright yellow breast feathers adorning its olive green body plumage, the Hawai` i `Amakihiflies gracefully through forests searching for nectar sources like flowers or insects.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily | Carduelinae |
| Genus | Chlorodrepanis |
| Species | C. virens |
19. ʻApapane
The ‘Apapane is a beautiful bird native to the Hawaiian Islands. It has bright crimson feathers and is a member of the honeycreeper family.
This small species can be found on all main islands, including Hawaiʻi, Maui, Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi and Oahu.
These birds are most commonly seen in ōhi’a trees where they feed off nectar from flowers as well as insects that live among the foliage.
They nest high up in these tall hardwood trees and also soar through rainforest treetops looking for food sources with their long wingspan.
The ‘Apapane’s vibrant coloration makes it an iconic symbol of Hawaii’s diverse wildlife landscape; its cheerful presence often bringing joy to visitors who have come to explore this tropical paradise.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily | Carduelinae |
| Genus | Himatione |
| Species | H. sanguinea |
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20. Red-Billed Leiothrix
The Red-billed Leiothrix is a stunning bird, native to southern China and the Himalayas. It has an olive green back along with a bright yellow-orange throat and chin.
Males have brighter colors than females while juveniles are noted for their black bills. The most striking feature of this species is its red bill which gives it its name.
This bird can also be found in other parts of Asia due to intentional introductions by humans over time.
In addition to being eye catching, the Red-billed Leiothrix is renowned for its melodic songs that fill forests with beautiful music during breeding season.
All in all, these birds make for wonderful additions to any backyard or park setting.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Leiothrichidae |
| Genus | Leiothrix |
| Species | L. lutea |
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21. Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio
The Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio is a small bird native to the Big Island of Hawaii. It belongs to the monarch flycatcher family and until 2010, it was classified as one species alongside two other subspecies; Kauaʻi ʻelepaio and Oahu ʻelepaio.
This vibrant colored bird boasts black upperparts with white wingbars, a gray head and an orange-yellow breast.
It also has unique vocalizations which sound like “chee-dee” or “chup” while they are singing or searching for food in trees during their active daytimes.
The Hawai’i ‘Elepaios feed on insects such as beetles, spiders, caterpillars by gleaning them from foliage near ground level up into canopy layers of trees – making them difficult to spot.
Considering these birds have been around since before 1800s when first discovered by Europeans settlers – there’s no doubt that this beautiful creature will remain part of Hawaiian culture for years to come.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Monarchidae |
| Genus | Chasiempis |
| Species | C. sandwichensis |
22. Pacific Golden Plover
The Pacific golden plover (Pluvialis fulva) is an attractive migratory shorebird known for its breeding habits in Alaska and Siberia.
During the nonbreeding season, these medium-sized birds migrate widely across the Pacific.
It was formally described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1789 as part of his revised edition of Carl Linnaeus’s Systema Naturae.
The species has a unique yellowish colouration with dark markings on their wings and back which gives them splendid camouflage against coastal rocks or sand beaches during migration periods.
They are omnivorous feeders who primarily eat insects, small crustaceans, worms and plant material like seeds or berries found along coastlines while migrating through various islands such as Hawaii, New Zealand etc.. A remarkable bird that possesses both beauty and resilience.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Charadriidae |
| Genus | Pluvialis |
| Species | P. fulva |
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23. Hawaiian Stilt
The Hawaiian Stilt is an endangered subspecies of the Black-necked Stilt, a long-legged shorebird with a slender beak.
It’s also known as the Aeʻo, Kukuluaeʻo or Hawaiian black-necked stilt and can mainly be found in Hawaii.
They are usually seen near coastal wetlands such as lagoons and tidal flats where they spend most of their time searching for food like worms and insects on shallow water areas.
The main threats to this species include habitat loss due to urbanization and wetland drainage which has caused them populations to decline significantly over recent years.
Conservationists are working hard towards restoring these habitats so that these birds have more suitable places to live in order for their population numbers to increase once again.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Recurvirostridae |
| Genus | Himantopus |
| Species | H. mexicanus |
| Subspecies | H. m. knudseni |
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24. Hawaiian Duck
The Hawaiian duck, also known as Koloa, is an endemic bird of the large islands in Hawaii. It belongs to the Anatidae family and it is closely related to mallard ducks.
The main difference between these two species lies in their looks; while male and female Mallards have different colors, Hawaiian Ducks are monochromatic with similarly marked males and females.
This species does not migrate from its habitat either unlike other Anas genus ducks.
With a brownish-grey coloration on its body along with bright green head feathers, this beautiful creature can be seen mostly near ponds or vegetation areas around Hawaii’s coasts where they feed mainly on aquatic plants like algae and insects found there.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Anas |
| Species | A. wyvilliana |
25. Erckel’s Spurfowl
Erckel’s spurfowl is a species of game bird in the family Phasianidae. It was first described by German naturalist Eduard Rüppell, who named it after his assistant Theodor Erckel.
This beautiful bird has an array of colors – its plumage features shades of brown, white and black on its body with striking red wattles around their eyes and beak.
Their diet mostly consists of seeds, small insects like grasshoppers, beetles and termites as well as fruits found in forests or open areas near water bodies.
They are usually seen foraging alone or in pairs but can form large flocks during breeding season which takes place from February to June when males will perform courtship displays consisting of strutting along alternate routes while calling loudly to attract mates.
Erckel’s Spurfowl provides sport hunting opportunities throughout East Africa due to their abundance making them a popular quarry among hunters year-round.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae |
| Genus | Pternistis |
| Species | P. erckelii |
26. Hawaiian Coot
The Hawaiian Coot, also known as the ʻ’alae ke’oke’o in Hawaiian is a striking species of bird found only on the islands of Hawaii. It has an overall black plumage and a prominent white bill with a yellow spot at its base.
The coot measures 13-16 inches long and weighs about 1 pound 9 ounces when fully grown. They are quite similar to American Coots but have adapted well to their tropical home habitat over time.
Generally they can be seen foraging along lakes or wetlands where there is plenty of mud or shallow water available for them to feed from aquatic vegetation such as algae, grasses and insects that live beneath it’s waters surface .
These birds are highly social animals preferring company while swimming around together during mating season which occurs generally between spring and summer months each year in Hawaii.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rallidae |
| Genus | Fulica |
| Species | F. alai |
