Diet and Life Cycle ‘Io begin breeding around age 3 or 4 and will mate for life. The males will perform acrobatic courtship displays that can be seen from winter through the spring, when nesting season begins. The pair begins nest building in the spring and continues until the females lay their clutch usually of 1-2 eggs.

The Hawaiian hawk or ʻio (Buteo solitarius) is a raptor in the genus Buteo endemic to Hawaiʻi, currently restricted to the Big Island. The ʻio is one of two extant birds of prey that are native to Hawaiʻi, the other being the pueo (Hawaiian short-eared owl) and fossil evidence indicates that it inhabited the island of Hawaiʻi , Molokaʻi ...

Apr 25, 2024 · In the sky, we notice a distant screeching sound leading us to a tiny circling dot—a bird, likely the ‘io or Hawaiian hawk (Buteo solitarius), the sole hawk species native to Hawaiʻi. In Hawaiian culture, they revere these majestic birds as family protectors known as ʻaumākua. The endemic ‘io, once potentially distributed throughout ...

ʻIo (Hawaiian hawk, Buteo solitarius) Mei (May) 2024 Description Distribution Cultural Significance ʻŌlelo Noʻeau • Adults are 16-18 inches in length, females being slightly larger than males.1 • Can occur in light or dark color phases. • Begin breeding around 3 or 4 years and mate for life.1 • The only native member of the hawk family

Hawaiian hawks are graceful birds of prey native to Hawai'i. They exist in two color phases: 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 juveniles.

The ‘io or Hawaiian hawk (Buteo solitarius) is an endemic raptor found solely in the forests of Hawai‘i Island, al- though Wilson and Evans (1890–1899) reported ‘io on Ni‘ihau, Moloka‘i, and Kaua‘i in the past.

The Hawaiian Hawk builds bulky nest structures composed of large sticks, which they place in trees. Both the male and the female work together to build the nest. Once the time is right, the female will lay one to two eggs, though a clutch of one egg is most common.

The Hawaiian hawk (Buteo solitarius) is a medium-sized raptor that is native to the Hawaiian Islands. Also known as the io , it is found only in Hawaii and is non-migratory. It is a distinctive and iconic species in Hawaii and is an important cultural symbol for the Hawaiian people.

In Hawaiian culture, ‘io are aumakua – a family or personal god. 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).

The 'Io is the only native member of the hawk family remaining in the Hawaiian archipelago. Like many raptors, it occurs in both light and dark color phases. Although fossil records show that ‘Io once occurred on Moloka'i and Kaua'i, they now breed only on the Big Island, but are occasionally seen on Maui, O'ahu, and Kaua'i.