Hypothetical List

The following 50 bird species are mentioned in the literature or other sources as occurring naturally or having established populations in the Hawaiian Islands but for which the evidence is not sufficient for placement on the Primary Checklist (see Introduction for more information on acceptance criteria to the Primary Checklist). See also the Non-established List for non-native species reported in the wild that have not established viable breeding populations. Species on the hypothetical list fall into three categories and receive the following codes for the Hawaiian Islands and for each of the primary island groups (Northwestern and Southeastern Hawaiian Islands):

U - One or more records occur that could be valid but documentation on identification is insufficient for acceptance

N - One or more confirmed records exist that could be valid but assistance by humans in the occurrence is probable and cannot be excluded, or populations once considered established but since considered never established

E - One or more erroneous reports exist, based on re-identification of records or of historical reports that are known or undoubtedly based on error

Click on pdf for detailed species account, and on photos for documentary images in the Hawaii Rare Bird Photograph (HRBP) Collection, if available.