Hawaii, also known as the “Aloha State”, is a tropical paradise that boasts of breathtaking landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, and pristine beaches. Among the various attractions of Hawaii are the numerous bird species that nest and fly around the islands.
The white birds of Hawaii are particularly striking, with their bright plumage and unique characteristics that make them different from other tropical bird species.
This article will explore some of the white birds that are found in Hawaii, along with their interesting facts, habitats, and conservation status.
Whether you are a bird enthusiast or just a curious traveler, the white birds of Hawaii will definitely capture your attention in their beauty and grace.
1. Gulls
Gulls are a type of seabird in the family Laridae found worldwide. They are highly adaptable, often seen soaring above shorelines or near bodies of water.
Gulls have strong wings and long bills and vary greatly in size, colouration and behaviour from one species to another.
Some gull species feed on fish while others scavenge for food such as insects, small mammals or discarded human refuse.
Despite their different dietary habits they all share common traits including webbed feet which enable them to swim gracefully through the water after prey items like crabs or molluscs.
Gulls generally nest close to the shoreline where there is an abundance of available food sources making them excellent hunters that can live comfortably both on land and at sea.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Suborder | Lari |
| Family | Laridae Rafinesque, 1815 |
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2. Northern Mockingbird
The northern mockingbird is a common fixture in North American skies. It has greyish-brown upperparts and a paler underside with white wing patches, and its distinctive long tail makes it easy to spot.
This adaptable bird can often be seen singing from the tops of trees or fences, though it rarely strays into Europe.
The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 Systema Naturae as Turdus polyglottos – aptly named for their remarkable ability to mimic other birds’ songs.
Northern mockingbirds typically live on insects, fruits, berries and seeds but they will also happily scavenge food scraps left out by humans.
With its beautiful song and striking plumage this beloved avian makes an important contribution to our environment.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Mimidae |
| Genus | Mimus |
| Species | M. polyglottos |
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3. Belted Kingfisher
The belted kingfisher is a large, eye-catching bird native to North America. It belongs to the family Alcedinidae and has been divided into three subfamilies by recent research.
The species was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae.
This water Kingfisher stands out for its size as well as its striking plumage; males are bright blue on top with white below and females have rusty brown backs and wings with a thick black breast band across their chest.
They also possess an impressive call which can be heard from quite far away.
Belted kingfishers feed mainly on small fish but will sometimes also eat crustaceans, insects or even amphibians if they come across them while hunting around rivers or streams.
All in all, this is truly one remarkable bird that deserves our admiration.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae |
| Subfamily | Cerylinae |
| Genus | Megaceryle |
| Species | M. alcyon |
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4. Chukar
Chukar is a Palearctic upland gamebird belonging to the pheasant family. It has distinctive black and white bars on its flanks, as well as brown upperparts and buff underparts.
Its head is grey with an off-white face, throat and crest which turns chestnut in males during breeding season.
The Chukar typically lives in dry regions like open terrain or semi arid hillsides where it feeds mainly on seeds and invertebrates.
During winter months they tend to inhabit more wooded areas looking for shelter from harsh winds or snow storms.
They are social birds living in groups of up to 20 individuals but will pair off when mating season arrives.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae |
| Genus | Alectoris |
| Species | A. chukar |
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5. 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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6. Sanderling
The Sanderling is a small wading bird that can be found in the Arctic region. Its name comes from Old English, meaning “sand-ploughman”. It has grey feathers and light legs which give it its distinct white coloration.
During summer breeding months, they are known to travel great distances – some wintering as far south as South America or Southern Africa. They typically feed on crustaceans such as shrimp and mollusks along coastal shores.
The Sanderling is an important species to watch out for because of their long migratory patterns and sensitivity to environmental change; if there’s trouble with this species then other birds may also be affected.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Calidris |
| Species | C. alba |
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7. Warbling White-Eye
The Warbling White-Eye is a small passerine bird of the white-eye family, found in East Asia from Russia to Japan, Indonesia, Korea and the Philippines.
With its distinct yellow forehead and olive back it stands out amongst other birds. Its beady black eyes are surrounded by bright white rings which gives it an alert appearance.
It has a distinctive warble that can be heard during breeding season when they form large flocks in search for food or shelter.
During winter months these flocks disperse into smaller groups making them quite elusive at times but never far away.
This beautiful little bird is an important part of many local ecosystems so we should take time to appreciate their beauty while protecting them from potential threats like habitat destruction and climate change.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Zosteropidae |
| Genus | Zosterops |
| Species | Z. japonicus |
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8. Japanese Bush Warbler
The Japanese bush warbler is a small passerine bird that can often be heard, but rarely seen. It has an olive brown colour with dusky shades below and its distinct pale eyebrows give it an almost smiling look due to the curved shape of its beak.
During springtime, these birds are known for their sweet singing which can be heard throughout Japan.
They typically inhabit areas such as deciduous forests, parks or gardens near human habitations in order to find food and suitable nesting places in trees or shrubs.
The diet consists mainly of insects like grasshoppers, cicadas and beetles as well as some fruits during autumn season when they prepare for migration southwards to warmer climates before winter arrives.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Cettiidae |
| Genus | Horornis |
| Species | H. diphone |
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9. Short-Tailed Albatross
The Short-tailed Albatross, also known as Steller’s albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) is an impressive seabird that can be found in the North Pacific.
It has a unique combination of features from its Southern Ocean relatives combined with behavioural and morphological traits of other North Pacific birds.
Described by German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas from skins collected by Georg Wilhelm Steller, it is now a rare species due to hunting and overfishing activities in its habitat.
With white wingspan up to 3 metres long and black body plumage colouring them beautiful against blue skies, they are easy to identify when flying gracefully above waves or perched on rocks near shorelines looking for food.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Diomedeidae |
| Genus | Phoebastria |
| Species | P. albatrus |
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10. Zebra Dove
The Zebra Dove is a species of bird belonging to the Columbidae family. It can be found in Southeast Asia, and has predominantly brownish-grey feathers with black-and-white barring.
This dove stands out for its soft, pleasant cooing calls that sound like staccato notes when heard together. George Edwards first described it in 1743 as part of his English naturalist work on birds.
They are small animals with long tails, making them easily identifiable even from afar due to their distinct color patterning.
These doves prefer open woodlands or grassy areas near human settlements where they feed on seeds and insects while nesting close by but still far enough away from disturbance caused by humans or other animals who might disrupt their habitat.
The zebra dove is considered an important symbol among some Asian cultures representing love & beauty , reflecting how this little creature manages to capture people’s hearts wherever it goes.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Geopelia |
| Species | G. striata |
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11. Cattle Egret
The Cattle Egret is a heron of the family Ardeidae found around the world in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate areas. It has two subspecies: western cattle egret and eastern cattle egret.
They have white plumage with buff plumes on their head, neck and back. The beak is yellowish-orange with black tip while legs are orange or yellow coloured depending on species variation.
This bird usually feeds near large herds of animals such as cows, horses etc., where it finds plenty of insects to eat like grasshoppers, crickets etc..
Its presence benefits these animals by removing ectoparasites from them which leads to healthier livestock population.
It nests colonially in trees or shrubs located close to water bodies during breeding season which generally takes place between March-June every year.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Bubulcus Bonaparte, 1855 |
| Species | B. ibis |
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12. Falcons And Caracaras
Falcons and caracaras are birds of prey that belong to the family Falconidae. They have impressive sharp talons, hooked beaks and keen eyesight which makes them excellent hunters.
Falcons can reach speeds up to 200 mph when diving for their prey while caracaras use a combination of running and flying to hunt small mammals such as rabbits or rats.
Both falcons and caracaras live in various areas around the world from grasslands, deserts, forests, wetlands or even urban areas where they nest on cliffs or tall buildings.
The diet mainly consists insects but also includes larger animals like reptiles or other birds which they catch by surprise with fast dives out of the sky.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Falconiformes |
| Family | Falconidae Leach, 1820 |
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13. Cardinal
Cardinalidae is a family of passerine birds endemic to the New World that includes cardinals, grosbeaks and buntings.
This large group has great diversity in its members which range from tanager-like Piranga to warbler-like Granatellus.
They are usually distinguished by their bright plumage with reds, oranges and yellows being common among them.
Their strong bills enable them to feed on seeds, fruits and insects as well as other small prey items like lizards or frogs depending upon species.
Cardinals also have loud calls often used for territorial defense and courtship purposes while some can even imitate sounds made by other animals.
These adaptable birds inhabit a variety of habitats across North America making them an important part of many ecosystems there.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Superfamily | Emberizoidea |
| Family | Cardinalidae Ridgway, 1901 |
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14. Little Tern
The Little Tern is a delightful seabird belonging to the Laridae family. It has white feathers, with a bright yellow bill and black legs. The species name ‘albifrons’ comes from Latin, meaning “white” and “forehead”.
Formerly they were placed in the genus Sterna which contains large white terns – hence their diminutive size. They can be found around coastal areas of Europe, North America (S.a antillarum) and Red Sea (S.a saundersi).
These birds are known for their graceful flight as they soar above both inland wetlands and marine waters looking for fish to feed on.
Their population numbers have been decreasing due to human impacts such as overfishing so we need to take care that these beautiful creatures continue thriving within our ecosystems.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Sternula |
| Species | S. albifrons |
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15. Black-Crowned Night Heron
The Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized bird found in various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia and North and South America.
It has black crowns on its head with white feathers underneath. Its wings are greyish brown while its underparts are mostly white.
This species can be seen foraging near shallow water or along coastlines during dusk or dawn as it hunts small fish, amphibians and crustaceans.
They also feed on insects such as grasshoppers and beetles which they find in meadows close to freshwater bodies like lakes or ponds where they breed during springtime making nests using twigs lined with reeds and leaves near these waterside habitats.
In Australasia, this species hybridizes with the nankeen night heron that inhabits those areas instead; however both populations remain distinct from each other despite their overlap range regions.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Nycticorax |
| Species | N. nycticorax |
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16. 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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17. White-Tailed Tropicbird
The White-tailed Tropicbird is a beautiful seabird that lives in the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
It is the smallest member of its order Phaethontiformes, measuring only 28 inches from head to tail.
Its wingspan can reach up to 45 inches wide. The bird has white plumage with black markings on its wings and tail feathers.
It also has an unmistakable long streamer which trails out behind them when they are in flight – a characteristic feature for all tropicbirds.
They nest mainly on remote islands throughout their range but have recently begun nesting on Little Tobago as well.
These birds feed primarily off flying fish or squid near the ocean’s surface during daylight hours before returning back home at nightfall.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Phaethontiformes |
| Family | Phaethontidae |
| Genus | Phaethon |
| Species | P. lepturus |
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18. 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 |
19. Masked Booby
The Masked Booby is a large seabird belonging to the booby and gannet family. It was first described by French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson in 1831, making it one of six species of boobies within its genus Sula.
It has an impressive aerodynamic body shape with pale grey or white plumage on its head and neck, while the rest of its body is blackish brown.
Its wingspan can reach up to 1 metre wide. The bill is yellowish and pointed at the end, whilst they have bright blue skin around their eyes – this is why they are also known as ‘blue-faced’ boobies.
They use their strong wings for soaring over oceans in search of fish which makes them excellent fishers who feed mainly on flying fish near tropical waters but can occasionally be found off coasts in temperate regions too.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Sulidae |
| Genus | Sula |
| Species | S. dactylatra |
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20. 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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21. 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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22. 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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23. Ring-Billed Gull
The Ring-billed Gull is a medium sized seabird that can be seen throughout North America. Its head, neck and underparts are white while its back and wings are silver gray in color.
It has a relatively short yellow bill with a dark ring around it, as well as yellow legs.
The genus name for this species of gull comes from the Latin word ‘Larus’ which referred to large sea birds or gulls; while the specific delawarensis refers to the Delaware River where these birds were first discovered.
These beautiful creatures thrive near coasts, lakeshores and other bodies of water but also have been known to inhabit urban areas such as parks close by those watersides due to their adaptability towards human habitats.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. delawarensis |
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24. Franklin’s Gull
Franklin’s gull is a small species of seagull that breeds in the central provinces of Canada and certain states in the north of the United States. During winter, they migrate to Argentina, Caribbean islands and other parts further south.
The Franklin’s Gull has an average length between 32-36 cm with white head plumage and darker grey wings.
Its genus name Leucophaeus derives from Ancient Greek leukos meaning ‘white’ and phaios for ‘dusky’ while its specific pipixcan comes from a Nahuatl word for ‘gull’.
In addition to their striking appearance, these birds are also known for their distinct call which sounds like laughing or crying.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Leucophaeus |
| Species | L. pipixcan |
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25. Hawaiian Hawk
The Hawaiian hawk, or ʻio is an endemic raptor found only on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of two birds of prey native to the island – the other being a short-eared owl.
Evidence suggests that it once inhabited five islands in total but today can only be found on the Big Island.
This beautiful bird has distinctive white feathers and yellow legs and feet with its diet including small mammals, reptiles, insects and carrion which they hunt from above using their sharp vision.
The ‘Io plays an important role in keeping ecosystems balanced by controlling rodent populations as well as helping disperse seeds through consumption providing biodiversity for various plants across different regions within Hawaii’s forests and grasslands.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Genus | Buteo |
| Species | B. solitarius |
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26. 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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27. White-Rumped Shama
The White-rumped shama is a beautiful and popular bird of the Muscicapidae family. Native to densely vegetated habitats in India, Southeast Asia and other places due to its popularity as a cage-bird, it was formerly classified under the thrush family Turdidae.
It has distinctive features such as white rump patch on upper tail coverts which helps identify this species from others easily.
The male birds are known for their melodious singing capabilities while females lack that quality or sing very little compared to males making them perfect pets in households all over the world.
They feed mainly on insects but occasionally take fruits too, they prefer living close to water bodies like streams making them easy prey among predators when away from home.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Muscicapidae |
| Genus | Copsychus |
| Species | C. malabaricus |
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28. 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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29. Bufflehead
The Bufflehead bird is a small sea duck belonging to the goldeneyes genus. It was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus, and its scientific name is Bucephala albeola.
The name “Bucephala” comes from the Greek words for “bull-headed,” which refers to its oddly shaped, bulbous head.
These birds are known for their striking black and white plumage, with the males sporting distinctive iridescent green and purple feathers on their heads.
Buffleheads are found primarily in North America, spending their winters on coastal waters and migrating inland to breed in wooded areas.
They are skilled divers and feed primarily on insects and small crustaceans. Despite their small size, Buffleheads are hardy birds and can survive in extreme weather conditions.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Bucephala |
| Species | B. albeola |
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30. Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper
The Sharp-tailed sandpiper is a small wader bird that may belong in the Philomachus genus as P. acuminatus.
This would place it with the Ruff bird, however, it would also need to make room for the Broad-billed sandpiper.
This bird is unique among calidrid species, but it is uncertain whether it will be merged into the Philomachus genus along with the Sharp-tailed sandpiper.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Calidris |
| Species | C. acuminata |
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31. Semipalmated Plover
The Semipalmated plover is a small bird with yellowish coloring. Its name comes from the Latin words semi, meaning half, and palma, meaning palm, referencing the bird’s unique foot structure.
The plover is known for living in ravines and river valleys, and is a common sight along shorelines.
Despite its small size, the Semipalmated plover is known for being a strong and agile flier, able to quickly dart and twist through the air.
Its distinct coloring and fascinating behavior make it a popular subject for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Charadriidae |
| Genus | Charadrius |
| Species | C. semipalmatus |
Also Featured In: Galapagos Birds You Should Know, Birds of Galápagos Islands You Need to Know
32. Gygis
Gygis birds are a type of tern that belongs to the genus Gygis. The common white tern is the most well-known species in the genus. However, there is also another species known as the little white tern.
This bird was previously considered a subspecies of the white tern but is now recognized as a separate species.
The genus name Gygis derives from the Greek word for “seagull,” which reflects the bird’s physical appearance.
White terns have white plumage and are known for their unique breeding habits. They lay their eggs on tree branches, rather than a traditional nest on the ground.
The birds are found in the tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean, and they are known for their graceful and agile flying abilities.
Overall, Gygis birds are fascinating creatures that are distinct in their appearance, breeding habits, and habitat.Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Gygis Wagler, 1832 |
