{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{Speciesbox | status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Buteo solitarius'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22695929A93534506 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695929A93534506.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> | status2 = G3 | status2_system = TNC | status2_ref = <ref name="ns">{{cite web |title=''Buteo solitarius''. NatureServe Explorer 2.0 |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104065/Buteo_solitarius |website=explorer.natureserve.org |access-date=24 April 2023}}</ref> | image = Buteo solitaries.jpg | image_caption = At Honolulu Zoo, Hawaii | genus = Buteo | species = solitarius | authority = Peale, 1849 }}
The '''Hawaiian hawk''' or '''''{{okina}}io''''' ('''''Buteo solitarius''''') is a raptor in the genus ''Buteo'' endemic to Hawai{{okina}}i, currently restricted to the Big Island. The ''{{okina}}io'' is one of two extant birds of prey that are native to Hawai{{okina}}i, the other being the ''pueo'' (Hawaiian short-eared owl) and fossil evidence indicates that it inhabited the island of Hawai{{okina}}i, Moloka{{okina}}i, O{{okina}}ahu, Maui and Kaua{{okina}}i at one time.<ref name="FactSheet">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/files/NAAT%20final%20CWCS/Chapters/Terrestrial%20Fact%20Sheets/raptors/io%20NAAT%20final%20!.pdf |title=ʻIo |work=Hawaii's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy |publisher=State of Hawaiʻi |date=2005-10-01 |access-date=2009-03-20}}</ref> Today, it is known to breed only on the Big Island, in stands of native ''{{okina}}ōhi{{okina}}a lehua'' (''Metrosideros polymorpha'') trees. The species was protected as an endangered species in the United States, but was delisted in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ID=68BF4631-5056-9613-D80362B2AAEBD6C1|title = Newsroom | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service}}</ref> However, the IUCN classifies the species as Near Threatened.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> NatureServe considers the species ''Vulnerable''.<ref name=ns/>
==Description== The Hawaiian hawk measures approximately {{convert|40|to|46|cm|in}} in length. The female, which weighs {{convert|605|g|oz|abbr=on}} on average, is larger than the male, which averages {{convert|441|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.louisvillezoo.org/collection/animals/BirdsFS/Hawk-Hawaiian.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706014722/http://www.louisvillezoo.org/collection/animals/BirdsFS/Hawk-Hawaiian.pdf |archive-date=2010-07-06 }}</ref> 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 juveniles. During breeding season one of the pair, possibly the female, has a distinctive yellow forecap area just above the upper mandible.
==Threats== Common threats to the ''{{okina}}io'' are illegal shootings, the degradation of their native forest habitat, poisoning, vehicle collisions, starvation, and predation from other animals.
==Lifestyle== This solitary hawk remains in and defends its territories year round. They nest from March through September, and usually lay only one egg but sometimes they could lay up to three in their clutch. The female does the majority of sitting during the 38 days of incubation, while the male does the majority of the hunting. After the egg is hatched, the female only allows the male to visit when delivering food to the nest. The chick fledges at seven or eight weeks. Fifty to seventy percent of the nests successfully fledge young.
The ''{{okina}}io'' usually hunts from a stationary position, but can also dive on prey from the air. Due to Hawaii having almost no native land mammals (the Hawaiian hoary bat being the only one), its original diet presumably consisted mainly of smaller birds such as the flightless ducks and rails that once inhabited Hawaii. Today it feeds largely on introduced animals such as rats, lizards, and game birds, as well as invertebrates such as insects. It will also feed on the Hawaiian crow, a Hawaiian bird which is extinct in the wild; the recovery of the crow is repeatedly impeded by ''{{okina}}io'' predation. They are opportunistic predators and are versatile in their feeding habits. They have a shrill and high-pitched call much like their Hawaiian name: "eeeh-oh." They are very noisy during the breeding season. ''{{okina}}Io'' are strong fliers.
==In Hawaiian culture== The Hawaiian hawk was one of many birds unleashed in the third period of creation (''wā'') mentioned in the Kumulipo.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Kumulipo: A Hawaiian Creation Chant |author= Martha Warren Beckwith |author-link= Martha Warren Beckwith |year= 1951 |publisher= University of Hawaii Press |chapter=12: Winged Life |pages=68–74| isbn= 0-8248-0771-5 |url=https://puke.ulukau.org/?a=d&d=EBOOK-BECKWIT2.2.15.1&e=-------haw-20--1--txt-txPT----------- |edition= 1981 paperback }}</ref> It was a royal symbol in Hawaiian legend, and it is sometimes called ''{{okina}}iolani'' ("exalted hawk"), which was the name of Kamehameha IV and the {{okina}}Iolani Palace.
==References== {{Reflist}} *{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/fauna/HIhawk.html |title=Hawaiian Hawk / Buteo solitarius / ʻIo |work=Fish and Wildlife Pacific Office |publisher=United States Fish and Wildlife Service}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Buteo solitarius}} {{Wikispecies|Buteo solitarius}} *[http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3512&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet.]
{{Buteoninae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1275471}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Buteo Category:Endemic birds of Hawaii Category:Birds of prey Category:Birds described in 1848 Category:Taxa named by Titian Peale Category:ESA endangered species