Hawaiian Endemics

We lucked out on the endemic forest birds of Oahu. However, we were a bit more successful in seeing the endemic Hawaiian waterbirds. Of these, only two are endemic species, the Hawaiian Coot (Fulica alai) which as far as we're concerned looks no different from the Coots we see everywhere in California.


And the other is the Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana) which is not that much different from the Mallard.


The are two endemic subspecies - again with no visible marks that would distinguish them from their mainland counterparts.

The Hawaiian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis)


and the Hawaiian Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni)


But the most intriguing of them all was the Hawaiian Crane (Cranus machinus) which we almost missed. Good thing its name was displayed prominently. :D


Please click on the photos to see a bigger size. Mahalo!