Hawaiian Ducks

1. Hawaiian Duck Anas wyvilliana, Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, July 12, 2006. Known locally as the Koloa, this is a rare Hawaiian endemic, with probably less than 2500 individuals remaining. Considered by some to be an island race of Mallard A. platyrhynchos, the genetic integrity of the remaining Hawaiian Duck population is threatened by hybridization with introduced Mallards and many of the reestablished birds on other islands are thought to be Hawaiian Duck-Mallard hybrids. We found the Koloa on Kaua'i to be vary wary and inconspicuous and would not allow a close approach. Note the distinctive pale eyering in this view. Some images of the nominate Holarctic form of Mallard can be found here.

2. Hawaiian Duck A. wyvilliana, Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, July 11, 2006. A different individual, the blue-green speculum, bordered with white, is just visible on the closed wing.

3. Hawaiian Duck A. wyvilliana, Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, July 11, 2006. Same individual as in image 2 above, the bird has shifted the wing slightly so that the brown rectrices are now visible.

4. Hawaiian Ducks A. wyvilliana, Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, July 11, 2006. The bills on the Koloas we saw were mostly dark horn color, with variably-sized dull orange blotches either side of the tip.

5. Hawaiian Duck A. wyvilliana, Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, July 11, 2006. A close-up of the middle bird in image 4. Note the brown rectrices again.