Hawaiian Hawk Life History

Habitat

Hawaiian Hawks occupy a range of habitats from near sea level to 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) elevation on the island of Hawaii, including lowland non-native forests, agricultural lands, and upper-elevation native forests. Breeding habitat in native forest is typically dominated by tall ohia trees.

Food

Hawaiian Hawks feed mainly on birds and small mammals, with insects and spiders forming a smaller part of their diet. Avian prey include a mix of native and non-native bird species ranging from small songbirds (such as Warbling White-eye) to doves and small game birds. Hawaiian Hawks have been known to prey on the critically endangered Hawaiian Crow, posing a severe danger to that species' survival. Hawaiian Hawks evolved on the Hawaiian Islands in the absence of small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, but they have adapted to the introductions of these animals—rats and mice are now common prey items. These hawks typically forage by standing still on a perch to scan for prey below and then suddenly dropping down onto the animal below.

Nesting

Nest Placement

Usually placed in a large ohia tree on one or more supporting branches near the trunk.

Nest Description

A large, bulky bowl constructed with sticks, twigs, and leaves and lined with fresh ohia leaves or other green vegetation.

Nesting Facts

Behavior

Hawaiian Hawks typically occur alone or in pairs. Like other Buteo hawks, they often soar over forested and agricultural areas. This species is socially monogamous and it appears that pairs form long-term bonds, remaining paired year-round and maintaining territories throughout the year. Both sexes contribute to nest building and refurbishment, incubation, and brooding, although the female typically spends more time on these duties. The male makes most of the food deliveries to the nest, providing prey items to the female, which then feeds the small chicks.

Conservation

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists Hawaiian Hawk's conservation status as Near Threatened and estimates the global population size at 1,700–2,500 mature individuals. Unlike many native Hawaiian songbird species, which are highly susceptible to introduced avian malaria, Hawaiian Hawk appears to be resistant to the disease.

Credits

BirdLife International. 2023. Buteo solitarius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023: e.T22695929A225199006. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T22695929A225199006.en.

Clarkson, K. E. and L. P. Laniawe (2020). Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo solitarius), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.hawhaw.01

Floyd, T. (2025). Field Guide to the Birds of the United States and Canada. Eighth edition. National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C.

Pratt, H. D., P. L. Bruner, and D. G. Berrett (1987). A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA.

Raine, H. and A. F. Raine (2020). American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Hawai'i. Scott & Nix, Inc. New York, NY, USA.

Back to top