To this day, the Hawaiian Hawk lives in the forests of Hawaii and is treated with the utmost respect and care by the natives. So much so that the Hawaiian people considered this bird to be an Aumakua, which is a personal or family god that is known to be both sacred and protective.įor this reason, killing or even harming this bird is considered entirely unacceptable and taboo. The Hawaiian Hawk, which is informally referred to as ‘lo, is only from Hawaii and was once seen as a symbol of royalty. Sometimes, Hawaiian Hawks may even perch themselves on a stationary perch (such as a high branch) where they will patiently wait for unsuspecting prey to walk into their view, where they will then pounce and attack. While hunting, these unique hawks will circle the skies in search of prey and, as soon as prey has been spotted, these cunning hawks will dive from the air in order to take their prey by surprise. More often than not, though, Hawaiian Hawks will usually stick to small rodents, insects, grubs, and even birds that are smaller than them. What Do They Eat? (Diet)Ĭharacterized as being an opportunistic predator, Hawaiian Hawks have versatile feeding habits, and aren’t afraid to switch up their diet in the case of a shortage! They are characterized by letting out a high shrill while they are hunting or calling to others, and often let out high-pitched calls during the breeding season, as well as while they are making nests. The Hawaiian Hawk is a relatively vocal bird and is known to whistle both to themselves and to others around them. Then, at around the 9-week mark, the chick will fledge and leave the nest. Interestingly, after the chick has been hatched, the female will temporarily develop a dislike towards the male, and keep him away from the nest for around four to five weeks.ĭuring this time, the male will keep his distance from the mother and chick, returning to the nest only to provide food. With the female doing most of the incubation by herself, the male will standard guard and protect them both, and after a period of time that stretches to around 38 days, the egg will then hatch. Similar to other species of Hawk, Hawaiian Hawks will usually mate with one partner and remain in the partnership for the entirety of their lives.īreeding season is typically from March all the way through to September, with the female usually laying just one egg in April or May. Hawaiian Hawks will typically begin to mate at around three or four years of age. The Hawaiian Hawk also has very large talons that allow it to easily grab onto insects and small rodents, and their feathers are able to strategically blend into their natural habitat of forests and other foliage. The Hawaiian Hawk has many different adaptations that have allowed it to survive living near Hawaii’s active volcanoes, including powerful wings and great eyesight. It should be noted that, during the breeding season, female Hawaiian Hawks can become aggressive and show a low tolerance towards the male partner after the chick has been born – but this is temporary and often passes after around 5 weeks. They are also known to be relatively territorial, and won’t hesitate to show aggression to other birds and humans if it feels threatened – and that goes for both the male and females! The Hawaiian Hawk is extremely protective of its nest and will fight to the death to keep its chick safe. Yes, the Hawaiian Hawk is known to display aggressive behaviors from time to time. On average, the male stands at around 40 to 46 centimeters, which is around 16 to 18 inches in length.Īs for females, they usually stand upwards of 50cm (20-22 inches) and are usually heavier than the males, weighing in at around 605g (1.3lbs), with the male usually weighing around 441g (0.9lbs). However, the female does tend to be slightly larger than the male, which is something that is often seen within different types of hawk species. There aren’t a whole lot of differences between male and female Hawaiian Hawks. The Hawaiian Hawk, otherwise known as Buteo Solitarius, is a bird that hails from the forests of Hawaii – and was once seen as a symbol of royalty!Īs the only native Hawk in Hawaii, the Hawaiin Hawk can be seen in two varying color patterns, which include either a dark, brownish color or a lighter, off-white color.
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