#hawaiiangallinule

[jadafitch]

Day 13 of Avian August 2025, Birds of Hawaii, hosted by @cookiedoves : ʻAlae ʻula or Hawaiian gallinule (Gallinula galeata sandvicensis)

Found only on Kauaʻi and Oʻahu today, the endangered Hawaiian gallinule is a subspecies of the mainland's common gallinule.

In Hawaiian mythology, the bird is said to have brought the secret of fire to humans. The name, ʻalae ʻula, actually means "burnt forehead," referring to its red shield above the bill.

*Plant featured is the native Hawaiian perennial herb, ʻAkulikuli kai or Shoreline Purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum).

[ariannblack]

Dinnertime! I watched this Hawaiian gallinule catch and tear apart the crawfish it’s holding in its beak. Hawaiian gallinules are an endangered water bird, they are also known as the Hawaiian moorhen. The Hawaiians believe that this bird brought fire to the islands from the gods. I didn’t know when I was shooting it, but it is a shy elusive bird that went from populating all the islands to a count of around 300 individuals on a couple of the islands. Although conservation groups are working to save this bird, It is endangered and will soon be lost. I was just lucky enough to be in the right spot at the right time to see this endangered moorhen eating. I hope to be able to photograph more of these special birds in the future. #moorhen #hawaiianmoorhen #hawaiiangallinule #bird #birds #birdphotography #birdwatching #birder #bird_watchers_daily #birdsofinstagram #audubon #audubonsociety #hawaii #kauai #nature #endangered #travel #explorehawaii #tourismhawaii #wanderlust #endangeredspecies #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #naturelovers #natgeoyourshot #bird_lovers #bird_lovers_daily #conservation #hawaiianwildlife (at Kauai) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btl8GSJnVGw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qmgwtt9j5z15