Birds of Maui
A Nene, Hawaii’s State Bird Photo uploaded by gadgetdude
If you’re a birdwatcher, Maui is an excellent place to give your binoculars and curiosity a workout! From the mountains to golf courses, Hawaiian birds can be spotted just about everywhere.
You’ll most likely stumble upon an Albatross, soaring above the beach. Whether it be a Laysan, Black-Footed, or Short-Tailed, they’ll be gliding effortlessly through the air with their whistle-like voice.
If you’re traveling to Kilauea Point, you may be lucky enough to see a Red-Tailed Tropicbird, diving into the water to catch fish and squid. These birds are hard to spot, so it might be best to bring binoculars. There’s also the Masked Booby, the Red-Footed Booby, and the Brown Booby which also plunge into the water to catch their lunch.
You’ll see birds uncommon to tropical climates like the Canada Goose and Mallards, who had the same idea as you by jetting off to the islands for the winter months!
While in the country, try and spot a Nene, the state bird of Hawaii. This medium-sized goose likes to hang around golf courses, grasslands, and lowlands. Its caw is much like the Canada Goose or the ‘moo’ of a cow, surprisingly, so you’ll probably hear one before you see it.
Finally, there’s the ‘I’Iwi, a tiny bright scarlet bird with a salmon-colored curled beak. Its feathers were commonly used in featherwork and it was also sung about in many ancient chants, making the bird a legend of the islands.
Planning a trip to Maui? Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the Go Maui Card.
It is cool.