Io

Giclee by Marian Berger

Also known as the Hawaiian Hawk. The prey is an I'iwi.

From the series of thirty-three prints, Living Endemic Birds of Hawaii, by Marian Berger.

From www.fws.gov and search: "The Io is endemic to Hawai‘i and was a symbol of royalty in Hawaiian legend. The Io is also the only hawk today native to Hawai‘i. They only breed on the Big Island but have been occasionally seen on Maui, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i. Fossil records indicate that this hawk may also been established on Moloka‘i and Kaua‘i. They depend on native forest for nesting, but are able to use a broad range of habitats for foraging, including papaya and macadamia nut orchards, as well as forests dominated by native and introduced vegetation, from sea level to 6,500 feet elevation. This graceful bird of prey measures 16 to 18 inches in length, the female being larger. Two color phases exist: a dark phase (dark brown head, breast, and underwings), and a light color phase (dark head, light breast and light underwings). Feet and legs are yellowish in adults and greenish in immatures. The Io was listed as an endangered species in 1967 under the Federal Endangered Species Act."

The Io is the only hawk native to the Hawaiian Islands and was considered a symbol of Hawaiian royalty because of its lofty flight ability. It tends to hunt from a stationary position but also dives from mid-air to catch prey. It feeds on small birds, rats, insects, and sometimes even worms. Io breed only on the Big Island, but they have been seen occasionally on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Due to focused conservation efforts, the species has had a stable population for about 20 years.

Copyright Marian Berger. All rights reserved; images are protected under US copyright laws and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner.