Hummingbirds in Hawaii: Where to see them and how to identify them

No, there are no hummingbirds in Hawaii. The islands have no native hummingbird species, and despite occasional sightings of escaped pets, no breeding populations have become established. If you want to see hummingbirds, you'll need to travel to the Americas or visit a zoo with an aviary.

Several Hawaiian birds can be confused with hummingbirds due to their small size, bright colors, and hovering behavior. The 'i'iwi (scarlet honeycreeper) and 'apapane are red forest birds that feed on nectar, but they don't hover like hummingbirds. The introduced Japanese white-eye and the red-billed leiothrix also visit flowers. None are true hummingbirds.

Most likely sightings of hummingbird look-alikes occur in native forests and high-elevation areas. For example, the 'i'iwi is common on the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai, especially in 'ohi'a forests. Time your visit for early morning when birds are most active feeding on nectar. Check out our Hawaii wildlife page for more details.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

The best time to observe these nectar-feeding birds is during the dry season (May to October), though they can be seen year-round. Dawn and late afternoon are peak feeding times. Many honeycreepers migrate to lower elevations during winter storms, so winter visits to higher elevations can also be rewarding.

Hummingbirds have slender bills and rapid wingbeats (50-80 beats per second) and can hover in place. Hawaiian honeycreepers like the 'i'iwi have curved bills but cannot hover; they perch while feeding. The 'i'iwi is bright red with black wings, while male Anna's hummingbird (mainland) has an iridescent red throat. No hummingbird in Hawaii means you're looking at a honeycreeper.