Birds of the Crater

From the text of the sign:

Birds of the Crater

The birdlife of the crater reflects the hot, dry environment, the urban surroundings, and historic introductions to Hawai'i. The population is dominated by common urban birds. Native birds, such as the pueo (Hawaiian Owl), are rare.

They live on the insects, seeds, and fruit they find in the crater. Many of them feed, roost, and nest in the crater but they can leave when it becomes especially dry and hot.

See which of these common birds you can find.

Kentucky Cardinal

Native to North America, the male is all red and the female is yellowish brown. These birds are common in dry, kiawe thickets.

Japanese White Eye

Introduced from Japan in 1929, these small birds are marked by an olive green color and a white ring around the eyes. They are very active and constantly moving in search of food.

Java Sparrow

The Java Sparrow was introduced to Hawai'i from Java and Bali. This small bird is marked with a black head, white cheek spots, and pink beak. They are usually seen in flocks.

Brazilian Cardinal

Native to South America, this cardinal has a distinctive red head, crest, and throat while the back, wings, and tail are gray. These are the first birds to sing in the morning and nest in trees high above the ground.

Red-Vented Bulbul

Named for the crimson under the tail, these birds are numerous in the crater. They are native to Asia and are aggresive and noisy.

Myna

These birds were introducted from India in 1865 to combat army worms. They are noisy and quarrelsome in groups. Look for the yellow around the eyes.

Pacific Golden Plover

If it is winter, you may see the plover (kolea) in grassy areas. These solitary birds arrive in August from their artic nesting grounds and depart in May. They tend to return to the same location each year.

Gray Francolin

Found in dry, open grass and shrubby areas, these large birds tend to run along the ground. They were introducted from India for hunting in the 1860s.

Dove

The barred and spotted doves are distinguished by the patterns on their necks. These gray colored birds were introduced from Asia and are often described as comical, charming, and intelligent.

Please Do Not Feed The Birds

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