HAWAIIAN SEABIRDS

Albatrosses Boobys

Albatrosses are talented long-distance flyers and hunters who mate for life. Species found in Hawai‘i are the Black-Footed Albatross, the Laysan Albatross, and the Short-Tailed Albatross.

Boobies are diving birds with long bills. Some species can dive up to 30 meters! Species found in Hawai‘i are the Brown Booby, the Masked Booby, and the Red-Footed Booby.

Noddys Terns

Named for the nodding gestures involved in their courtship routine, noddies typically feed near shore. Species found in Hawai‘i are the Blue Noddy, the Black Noddy, and the Brown Noddy.

Terns are social birds that usually nest in colonies, and dive to feed. Many species are migratory! Species found in Hawai‘i are the Grey-Backed Tern, the Sooty Tern, and the White Tern.

Petrels Frigatebirds

Petrels are small, tube-nosed birds with long wings that nest in burrows or rock crevices. Species found in Hawai‘i are the Bonin Petrel, the Bulwer’s Petrel, and Tristram’s Storm Petrel.

Most famous for the male’s red throat pouch, frigatebirds catch prey from the surface of the ocean using their bills. The only species found in Hawai‘i is the Great Frigatebird.

Shearwaters Tropicbirds

Shearwaters are recognizable by their shuffling gait, the result of posterior placement of their legs. Species found in Hawai‘i are the Christmas Shearwater and the Wedge-Tailed Shearwater.

Tropicbirds, set apart by their long tail feathers, nest on cliffs and dive for food. Species found in Hawai‘i are the Red-Tailed Tropicbird and the White-Tailed Tropicbird.