Customer Reviews

Hawaii Birds: An Introduction to Familiar Species (State Nature Guides)

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I recently went on a trip to Hawaii, and, having an interest in birds, I wanted to be able to take an identification guide with me that wouldn't take up too much room. Being a fold-out, laminated thing made out of card-stock, this fit the bill perfectly. I was able to keep it in my purse and didn't have to worry about it getting crushed or ruined by spills. It does have pictures of all the most common birds, as well as their length and some (but not all, which was a bummer) have images of both sexes which is nice. I was lucky enough to spot zebra and spotted doves, a resplendent male red junglefowl (don't let the name fool you, it looks just like your garden-variety chicken), a red-crested cardinal, red-vented bulbul, house finch, common fairy tern, and several others. I didn't get into the rainforest while I was there, but if I did, this guide would come with me. It is a wonderful buy, and even if you don't agree, it's only six dollars. One thing I would like is that there was a little more information about the birds, but this is after all just a pocket guide.

This is a great, small, fold out card for beginning bird enthusiasts who want a quick reference to birds in Hawaii. But if you are a bird watcher, or even close, this little pamphlet might not be for you. There are no details on the birds, their habitats, calls, etc. The pictures are good, but I expected more from this item.

Don't buy this expecting a book; it's just a small pamphlet with photographs. Overall it'll be useful, but it could be better if used as a supplement with a real bird watchers book for Hawaii.

This 22"x8.5" "Pocket Naturalist" card folds into six two-sided panels of about 3.5"x8.5". It's copyrighted 2003. Overall, I think it serves the purpose stated in its subtitle: "An Introduction to Familiar Species." The paintings are fairly easy to grasp, both common and scientific names are given, maximum lengths are indicated, and some birds have helpful notes (e.g., for ring-necked duck, "bill has a white ring"). I count 142 different species or subspecies. The last panel has 22 "birding hotspots and sanctuaries" on 4 islands. It's not intended for serious birding, but birdwatchers may wish to carry it to show non-birders what they are supposed to be seeing.

If I could advise the author and Waterford Press, I would suggest: (1) Update the common names and species according to the "Checklist of the Birds of Hawaii - 2002" that is available on the Hawaii Audubon Society Web site. For example: "Warbling Silverbill (Lonchura malabarica) has been changed to African Silverbill (Lonchura cantans)." (2) Add more native Hawaiian names for the birds. (3) Delete birds that are fairly common all over the U.S. (e.g., mallards, rock doves [pigeons], and house sparrows). (4) Add a note or code to indicate which of the remaining species are endangered or threatened.* For example, Hawaiian Goose (Nene), Hawaiian Duck (Koloa), Hawaii Petrel ('Ua'u), Newell's Shearwater ('A'o), Hawaiian Coot ('Alae Ke'oke'o), Black-Necked Stilt (the subspecies listed is the Hawaiian Stilt, A'eo), Peregrine Falcon, Hawaiian Hawk ('Io), Hawaiian Crow ('Alala), 'Oloma'o, Kama'o, Puaiohi, Kauai 'O'o, 'O'u, Palila, Maui Parrotbill, Nukupu'u, 'Akepa, Hawaii Creeper, Oahu Creeper, 'Akohekohe, and Po'ouli are endemic birds that fall into this category. (5) Add the 'Oma'o (Hawai'i Thrush, Myadestes obscurus) and 'Akikiki (Kauai Creeper, Oreomystis bairdi), which are non-threatened endemic* Hawaiian birds found on the Big Island and Kauai respectively. Also add the endemic 'Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis), whose Hawai'i and Kaua'i subspecies are not threatened.

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* BTW, it's sad that so few Hawaiian birds that are endemic (i.e., that evolved and breed in Hawaii but nowhere else) are neither threatened nor endangered. Besides the 'Oma'o, 'Akikiki, and 'Elepaio mentioned above, the ones on the card are: Hawaiian Noddy (Anous minutus melanogenys, native name Noio, a subspecies of Black Noddy); Hawaiian Owl (Pueo); 'Anianiau; various 'Amakihi's; Maui 'Alauahio (Paroreomyza montana newtoni, a.k.a. Maui Creeper); 'Akeke'e; 'I'iwi; and 'Apapane. The other birds neither threatened nor endangered are human-introduced "aliens," indigenous (i.e., arrived and established themselves on their own), or just visitors.

This is a laminated pamphlet that is a great addition to your collection if you already have a book on the birds of Hawaii. Provides excellent color photos and names of the most common birds. Would recommend for a beginning birder traveling to Hawaii.

I assumed this would be more of a book. It is a fold out laminated card with birds. For each bird there is a picture, scientific name, and size. It is grouped by perching birds, water birds etc.

I was hoping for some more text for a first time bird watcher going to Hawaii.

This is a great quick reference guide to the birds of Hawaii. It is compact, tear and water proof. It also highlights the birding hotspots and sanctuaries on each island.

I have purchased quite a few of this type of quick reference folding cards over the years, I have them for Hummingbirds of the Western US, Shorebirds of Florida, Arizona Wildlife, Alaskan Birds, Amazonian Birds, etc. Since typical field guides (which I use, study and carry), especially for bird-rich countries, have SO many birds, I use these Pocket Guides as a kind of flash card to make me very familiar with the most common of birds that I might run into. This makes it even easier to identify the rarer birds as you can exclude the common ones quicker.

An added benefit of owning one of these is that I can let my non-birding friends (who often accompany me on my trips) use this to identify commonly seen birds as it is not too overwhelming for them. You should see their faces when they identify a bird that they have never seen in their life and then point it out to me! James Kavanagh has authored dozens of these, and not just about birds. He has guides about clouds, trees, insects, you name it. All-in-all I really like them.

have used these guides on previous trips to other destination-while other guide books were ruined in down pours this card survived unscathed.

We're going to Hawaii in a couple of weeks and I want a birding guide that is easy to understand and doesn't take up too much room. This is just the ticket, its not so much a book but rather a folded laminated card that will easily fit in yuor camera bag, beach bag or, heck, even a bookmark for your favorit beach read. Its an easy to understand guide of illustrated bird life on the islands. Its not like a Petersen's Guide, there are no maps or background, just illustrations of birds and their names, for me, for trveling with on a hike, this is just what I need, I can identify them with this and read about them later in a full feild guide. Keep this as your daily companion and you won't be disappointed.