Are there hummingbirds in Hawaii? Whether native or introduced? The answer to this question has been found to be very surprising to many people. You may easily think that considering the fact that Hawaii is in the US, Hummingbirds will be found there.
Hummingbirds are considered to be the smallest birds on earth, with very unique characteristics. They are hummers, with the ability to fly in virtually any direction, and great lovers of flower nectar. They can be attracted to your garden or around your home by putting out hummingbird feeders.
Hummingbirds are generally migrating birds and may be found at different locations during different times of the year. Whereas these birds are found in lots of places in the US and States around the US, there are concerns about whether they can be found in Hawaii. This is considering that it’s a state in the US.
This article gives the answer to the intriguing question: are there hummingbirds in Hawaii. Reasons are also given for why there are or there are no hummingbirds in Hawaii.
Can Hummingbirds Be Found In Hawaii
The simple response to this query is that hummingbirds cannot be found in Hawaii. Although Hawaii is one of the States in the US, these tiny beautiful birds cannot be found in Hawaii. Hawaii does not have native hummingbirds or even introduced hummingbirds.
In Hawaii however, you may find some tiny hummingbird-like creatures, usually about an inch long. These are however not hummingbirds. These creatures are actually moths, but because of their size and some similarities with hummingbirds, they are referred to as Hummingbird moths.
Whereas these moths may be found in Hawaii and its surroundings, hummingbirds cannot be found in Hawaii.
Do Hummingbirds Live On Islands?
There have been concerns in the past as to whether hummingbirds really live on islands. The answer is in the affirmative. You can find hummingbirds throughout many islands in the world.
Hummingbirds have been discovered to be found in virtually every aspect of the island of Trinidad and Tobago. Over eighteen (18) species have been found to live on this Island. On Vancouver Island in the city of British Columbia, Canada, about two hummingbirds species have been found there.
Similarly, about fourteen (14) species of hummingbirds have been found to live on the Caribbean Islands. In essence, hummingbirds have been discovered to live on Islands as well as Mainlands. Research has however shown that hummingbirds on Islands are more vulnerable to extinction.
The above notwithstanding, hummingbirds cannot be found in Hawaii. The fact that hummingbirds can thrive on Islands demonstrates that there is a different reason why they are not seen in Hawaii. Now let’s delve into why there are no hummingbirds in Hawaii.
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Why Are There No Hummingbirds In Hawaii?
Hummingbirds are indigenous to most American States, and as such, they are found in lots of US States. These birds are however not found or allowed to be bred in Hawaii for some reason.
There are two major reasons why Hummingbirds are not found in Hawaii:
- The first is that the birds have been prohibited by law to be bred in Hawaii for a particular reason.
- The second reason is that Hawaii is an isolated archipelago, and any hummingbird species living there will fly across the ocean.
Why Are Hummingbirds Banned In Hawaii?
The reason why Hawaii explicitly prohibited hummingbirds by law is that the birds inadvertently pollinate when they feed on nectar. You may wonder if pollination is really a bad thing, the truth is that it is not. But the Hawaii situation is a bit peculiar and precarious.
Lots of pineapples are cultivated and sold in Hawaii. The sellers do not want their pineapple crops to get pollinated as this will make the fruit develop seeds. Once the fruit develops seeds, it becomes unappealing at the market. Thus to protect the pineapple business in Hawaii, they have been banned.
The other major reason for their absence in Hawaii is that Hawaii is an isolated archipelago. The Hawaii island came about from volcanic eruptions forming in the course of millions of years. As such there are no native birds. Birds found on the Island are those that could travel a very long distance or be introduced.
It is not surprising that the government will take such drastic measures, considering how much revenue is gotten from pineapple. The fruit is considered to be one of the top five agricultural products giving revenue to the State.
Now you have an answer to why are hummingbirds banned in Hawaii, let’s consider a few other birds found in Hawaii.
Birds Found In Hawaii
Although Hummingbirds are not found in Hawaii, there are a few other birds that you can readily find there. The Hummingbird Moths is one such bird. These birds have very strong similarities with hummingbirds. It is for this reason they answer this name, but they are not hummingbirds.
The Hawaiian Honeycreeper is another bird you may readily find in Hawaii. Reddish heads and a black tail with curved bills, these nectar-loving birds are also found in Hawaii. Some popular species of this bird found on the Island include the Mamo and Amakihi species.
You may wonder why these birds may be found in Hawaii, but hummingbirds are not allowed. The reason is quite simple, these birds don’t cause similar damage to pineapples as do hummingbirds. Whereas the government, therefore, allows for their stay, this cannot be allowed for hummingbirds.
Conclusion On Are There Hummingbirds In Hawaii
As you can see from the above, Hummingbirds cannot be found in Hawaii. There are two major reasons for this. The first and most important is the fact that the birds are pollinators. When they cross-pollinate, pineapples on the island begin to develop sees. This has a negative economic impact.
For this reason, a law has been passed that prohibits people from breeding or introducing hummingbirds onto the Island. The second reason for their absence is the fact that Hawaii is an isolated archipelago.
It is very far from other mainland states, therefore requiring birds to fly all the way across the ocean to gain access. While some birds have been able to do this over the years, hummingbirds have not to a large extent. People living on the island are also not allowed to aid the bird in doing this.
Whenever you are in Hawaii, do take a close look around, and you will notice that hummingbirds are not seen on the island. It is illegal to introduce them, so do not risk going to the Island with a hummingbird.
So, we have answered the question: are there hummingbirds in Hawaii?