Hawaiian Birds

Half of Hawaii’s bird species are under ESA protection

Hawaii’s birdlife includes some of the most imperiled species in the world. Half of the endemic species known from the archipelago are extinct. Of 53 species that persist today, almost half (25) are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and 16 more are designated as USFWS species of conservation concern.

There are hopeful signs: 21 Hawaiian bird populations are stable, and seven are increasing. Yet 20 species are in decline, with losses primarily driven by threats including disease, invasive species, and habitat loss. Many birds face multiple threats that compound each other. 

Olive-yellow, little bird with a large, curved upper bill, perches on a branch.
Akiapolaau by Tom Johnson / Macaulay Library.

Major Threats to Hawaiian Birds

Chart showing different kinds of threats (rising seas and temperatures, habitat loss, invasive predators, and disease) to three groups of Hawaiian birds (Seabirds, wetland birds, endemic land birds). Overall rising seas and temperatures is the biggest threat and all groups of species are affected.
Multiple and compounding threats to Hawaiian birds
The threats to Hawaiian birds include rising seas and temperatures, habitat loss, invasive alien predators, and disease. Some bird species are affected by multiple threat types. Some threats interact with each other and exacerbate bird declines.

  • Mosquitoes Threaten Hawaiian Landbirds

    Diseases carried by non-native mosquitoes are a primary threat to landbirds, yet a mosquito-control program provides hope for some species. Without continued mosquito control, several Hawaiian honeycreepers will go extinct within a few years.

  • Invasive Species Threaten All Birds

    Non-native predators (such as rodents) threaten landbirds, wetland birds, and seabirds. Predator-removal programs decrease predation, but must be continued. Predator fences provide longer-term protection, but require funding to build and maintain.

  • Collaboration Is Key to Save Habitats

    Habitat loss from development, and habitat degradation by wildfires and invasive plants, pose additional threats to Hawaii’s birds. Yet collaborative efforts are restoring lands for Indigenous agricultural use and bird conservation.