Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in Hawaii

The birds, plants, and insects most often recorded in Hawaii. A starting field list, drawn from iNaturalist research-grade observations, for what is likely living near you.

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Birds

Birds Commonly Recorded In Hawaii

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. Red-Crested Cardinal Red-Crested Cardinal Paroaria coronata 9,019 records
  2. Zebra Dove Zebra Dove Geopelia striata 8,594 records
  3. Common Myna Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 7,515 records
  4. Pacific Golden-Plover Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva 7,133 records
  5. Western Cattle-Egret Western Cattle-Egret Ardea ibis 6,137 records
  6. Red Junglefowl Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus 5,790 records
  7. Hawaiian Goose Branta sandvicensis 5,036 records
  8. Black-Crowned Night Heron Black-Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 4,707 records
  9. Saffron Finch Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola 4,286 records
  10. House Sparrow House Sparrow Passer domesticus 3,659 records
  11. Spotted Dove Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis 3,329 records
  12. White-Rumped Shama White-Rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus 3,090 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In Hawaii

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. ʻōhiʻa Lehua ʻōhiʻa Lehua Metrosideros polymorpha 8,834 records
  2. Beach Naupaka Beach Naupaka Scaevola taccada 4,758 records
  3. White Leadtree White Leadtree Leucaena leucocephala 4,035 records
  4. Pūkiawe Pūkiawe Leptecophylla tameiameiae 3,853 records
  5. False Staghorn Fern False Staghorn Fern Dicranopteris linearis 3,708 records
  6. Thatch Screwpine Pandanus tectorius 3,245 records
  7. Noni Noni Morinda citrifolia 3,117 records
  8. Koster's Curse Koster's Curse Miconia crenata 2,854 records
  9. Beach Sheoak Beach Sheoak Casuarina equisetifolia 2,847 records
  10. Yellow ʻilima Yellow ʻilima Sida fallax 2,742 records
  11. Bamboo Orchid Bamboo Orchid Arundina graminifolia 2,681 records
  12. Strawberry-Guava Psidium cattleyanum 2,556 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In Hawaii

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 1,901 records
  2. Gulf Fritillary Gulf Fritillary Dione vanillae 1,876 records
  3. Monarch Monarch Danaus plexippus 1,767 records
  4. Black Witch Black Witch Ascalapha odorata 1,377 records
  5. Valley Carpenter Bee Valley Carpenter Bee Xylocopa sonorina 820 records
  6. Giant Asian Mantis Giant Asian Mantis Hierodula patellifera 763 records
  7. Lesser Grass Blue Lesser Grass Blue Zizina otis 629 records
  8. Ashy Gray Lady Beetle Ashy Gray Lady Beetle Olla v-nigrum 562 records
  9. Yellow Crazy Ant Yellow Crazy Ant Anoplolepis gracilipes 561 records
  10. Asian Tiger Mosquito Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes albopictus 541 records
  11. American Cockroach American Cockroach Periplaneta americana 538 records
  12. Oriental Flower Beetle Protaetia orientalis 502 records

Go Deeper

Use the live finder to narrow this to your town and season. Then read Who Lives Here, how to attract wildlife to your yard, and planting for local wildlife. For tools and field guides, see the recommended gear.

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