Hawaiian Moorhens

1. Hawaiian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis, Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, July 11, 2006. Formerly found on Maui, Moloka'i and Hawai'i, we found this endemic subspecies fairly easily on Kaua'i, with good numbers seen at several locations.

2. Hawaiian Moorhen G. c. sandvicensis, Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, July 11, 2006. Same bird as in image 1 above, note how broad the frontal shield is in this head-on view.

3. Hawaiian Moorhens G. c. sandvicensis, Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, July 11, 2006. Two adults, one in breeding plumage and one not. In the alternate-plumaged bird, note again the broad frontal shield and also the red on the front of the tarsi. The basic-plumaged bird also has some red on the tarsi but it is much less obvious.

4. Hawaiian Moorhens G. c. sandvicensis, Kawaiele Waterbird Sanctuary, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, July 11, 2006. The same two birds as in image 3.