Lyon Arboretum Docent Manual Birds of Lyon Arboretum Commonly Sighted Birds at Lyon Arboretum 1. Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis This urban bird is common and widespread in lowland areas of all main Hawaiian Islands; recently established on Midway. Mynahs were introduced from India in 1865 to control army worms, an agricultural pest in pasturelands. The body is about 9 inches long, the two sexes are alike in plumage. The back and neck are brown, the head is black with yellow around the eye and on the bill and legs. Its call is mostly a chatter, sometimes mimicking other birds. Mynahs are loud, aggressive and often comical with their cocky walk. They nest in trees and buildings and can even be seen nesting in stop lights. At sunset, Mynahs often gather and noisily roost in trees. Their nest is made of grasses, leaves, paper and trash, and they especially seem to like shiny bits of plastic in the lining of the nest. The mynah has relatives that have been introduced to the mainland. These relatives include the Crested Mynah from Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Starling found throughout North America. 2. Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild Very small red-billed, brown finch with a prominent red streak from the bill through the eye. Rump brown, undertail coverts black. Introduced to O`ahu from Africa early 20th century. Escaped pet, first identified in late 1970s. Widespread on O`ahu. Smallest finch at the Arboretum. Commonly seen in large groups. The song is a weak twittering, chip-chip-tooee, chip-chip-tooee. 3. Feral Chicken Gallus gallus Feral chickens are commonly found in the lower Arboretum grounds, hiding amongst the shrubs and trees. These birds were probably released or escaped domestic chickens which now inhabit the Arboretum. Males (roosters) are brightly colored, larger than the lighter, duller colored hens. Common. 4. Goffin Cockatoo Cacatua goffini The Goffin Cockatoo is smaller than the Salmon-crested Cockatoo. Its body is white. Introduced from Tanimbar Island in the Spice Islands. Often seen perched high in the Arboretum’s Albizia trees (which are also native to the Moluccas. Goffins are long-lived parrots that eats pulp from seed pods of palms, macaranga, and seeds of blue marble tree. They drink water from water pockets in the trees. 5. Japanese White-eye (Mejiro) Zosterops japonicus This bird was introduced to O`ahu from Japan as a possible insect control in 1929, and to the Big Island (Hawai`i) in 1937, and there were several subsequent introductions into the 1940’s. Their diet includes insects, buds, fruit and nectar. White-eyes have increased dramatically, are fairly common in any lowland wooded area and are now recognized as a threat to Hawaii `Äkepa (from the Big Island). The Hawaii `Ākepa could face extinction from food stress caused by competition from Japanese White-eyes. White-eyes are a small olive green bird with a distinctive Revised 2009 Page 1 Lyon Arboretum Docent Manual Birds of Lyon Arboretum white eye ring, and are usually active and quick moving through brush and trees, constantly searching for insects. The Japanese White-eye is fairly common in wooded areas, traveling alone or in small groups. Its song is high pitched and it also has a scolding twitter call. It often includes mimicry of other species. Its nest is neatly woven of fibers and grasses, usually placed in the small horizontal fork of a branch. The Japanese White-eye is very similar in appearance to the native `Amakihi. The easiest way to distinguish them is the White Eye’s white eye ring. White-eyes are probably the most common land bird in Hawaiÿi. 6. Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis The Northern Cardinal is also known as the Kentucky Cardinal. They were released on several occasions between 1929 and 1931, and now are commonly found in the lowlands. It is one of 4 birds found in Hawaii’s lowlands that have crests. (The two species of birds with red crests are cardinals; the two with black crests are bulbuls). The male Northern Cardinal is all red with black around the base of its bill. The female is brown with some pink on her feathers. Both have pinkish red bills. Juveniles are like the female but the bill is dull brown. The call is a distinctive metallic “speet”. Songs loud, whistled melodies and trills: a slow trill followed by several slower, downslurred notes, and a long trill of liquid notes, dropping in pitch at the end. 7. Nutmeg Mannikin (Rice Bird) Lonchura punctulata The Nutmeg Mannikin also known as Rice Bird or Spotted Munia, was introduced to Hawaiÿi from Southeast Asia about 1865. It is the smallest bird in the Arboretum lowlands, only about four inches long. The male is dark brown, has a black bill, a darker face and a spotted brown and white breast. The female and juveniles are lighter brown. They can be seen in the grass in small flocks where they feed on the grass seeds. When rice was grown in Hawaiÿi this bird was a serious pest to rice growers. More recently Nutmeg Mannikins have devastated experimental sorghum crops. The best place to see this bird is on the lawn adjacent to the lower driveway in Lyon Arboretum. Its voice is a characteristic low- pitched, reedy “chee, ba-hee”, different in quality from the calls of most other small finches. (abundant) 8. Red-crested Cardinal Paroaria coronata The Red-crested Cardinal is also commonly known as the Brazilian Cardinal. Adult males and females each have a bold red head and crest, a gray back and tail, and a white breast and collar. The juvenile Red-crested Cardinal is the same size but has an orange-brown head and crest. The Red-crested Cardinal was introduced from South America around 1930. Both species of cardinals eat seeds, insects and fruits. Both species have open cup shaped nests. Calls are a buzzy “chink”. Songs a loudly whistled melody with evenly spaced lilting slurs and warbles. A greeting pair may utter an excited jumble of liquid whistles, chirps, and slurs. Revised 2009 Page 2 Lyon Arboretum Docent Manual Birds of Lyon Arboretum 9. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer There are two kinds of Bulbuls found at the Arboretum. The Red-vented Bulbul is one of the commonest birds seen in the Arboretum and is now well established all over O`ahu. Despite being classified as a “prohibited entry” it was an unplanned introduction from India (escaped cage bird) in about 1966. Stray birds are reported from Kaua`i, Moloka`i, Kaho`olawe and the Big Island (Hawai`i). The Red-vented Bulbul’s body is dark grey-black, except for a white rump seen when in flight, white tips to the tail and a red vent. The voice is a variety of rather low-pitched chirps and whistled phrases. Also has an elaborate dawn song of flute-like whistles. 10. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus The Red-whiskered Bulbul is found in a few residential sections of Honolulu (the Mānoa Makiki area is their main population center). It is another introduction from India, first reported in 1967. It has a white breast, (which the Red-vented Bulbul does not have). The crest is thinner, and more pointed. It has a reddish- orange vent and a small crimson patch below the eye. In both Bulbuls, the male and female are alike. Bulbuls do resemble Cardinals but they are not closely related. The voice is similar to, but higher pitched than that of the Red-vented Bulbul. Phrases varied but always with a gurgling quality. Call is similar to but more piercing than the House Sparrow’s. 11. Salmon-crested Cockatoo Cacatua moluccensis First seen in the Arboretum in 1967, (2-3 in 1980’s). Probably escaped pets or from Paradise Park’s captive breeding program. Pink colored crest. From a single island in the Moluccas Islands in Indonesia. Reported to be one of the 50 rarest birds in the world. In the Moluccas, birds were trapped in great numbers for export for the pet trade. 12. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis The Spotted Dove is about 12 inches long. The sexes are similar, grayish brown body with a rosy breast. It has a black and white spotted band around the back and sides of its neck. The Spotted Dove was introduced from Asia in the mid- 1800s, and was reported to be common on O`ahu by 1879. Its nest is a flimsy twig platform in a tree or bush. They have an elaborate courting display of bowing and tail flaring. Spotted Doves are commonly seen on the grass or pathways feeding on seeds, or perched on overhead utility wires. They are also known as Lace-neck Doves, Ring-neck Doves, or Chinese Doves. The song is a variable low hoarse “coo”, typically “coo-WHOO-coo”. Common. 13. White-rumped Shama Thrush Copsychus malabaricus The Shama Thrush was intentionally introduced to Kaua`i in 1931 from Malaysia, and released on O`ahu in 1940. Mr. and Mrs. Caum, who lived in the main cottage at Lyon Arboretum, kept caged birds and released them, so Lyon Arboretum was probably one of the earliest Shama introduction sites on O`ahu. Shamas have very melodious, rich songs and are noted as one of the most beautiful songbirds in the world. They appear relatively unafraid of people, and often follow our gardeners Revised 2009 Page 3 Lyon Arboretum Docent Manual Birds of Lyon Arboretum around, an example of opportunistic feeders using garden staff and volunteers to help locate small insects, earthworms and centipedes for their dinner.