# Pueo

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Subspecies of bird

Pueo Conservation status Imperiled (NatureServe)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae Genus: Asio Species: A. flammeus Subspecies: A. f. sandwichensis Trinomial name Asio flammeus sandwichensis A. Bloxam, 1827[2] Synonyms Strix sandwichensis

The **pueo** (***Asio flammeus sandwichensis***) is a [subspecies](/source/Subspecies) of the [short-eared owl](/source/Short-eared_owl) and is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii). The pueo is one of the more famous of the various physical forms assumed by *[ʻaumākua](/source/Aumakua)* (ancestor spirits) in Hawaiian culture.

## Symbols

The **pueo** (***Asio flammeus sandwichensis***) has many meanings across the Hawaiian Archipelago. Being an aumakua, Kanaka Maoli may see it as a symbol of protection for their families. In Native Hawaiian culture the Pueo can be seen as a source of guidance, appearing in times of danger; protecting people from distress. "ka pueo kani kaua" (The Owl that sings of war); The Pueo is mentioned in many different stories and chants. This quote comes from a chant for the god Pueo-Nui-Akea who was believed to bring life back to souls who wander around fields.

## Taxonomy

This [taxon](/source/Taxon) was first named by [Andrew Bloxam](/source/Andrew_Bloxam) (as the species *Strix sandwichensis*). He saw it, although did not collect a specimen, while in the [Hawaiian Islands](/source/Hawaiian_Islands) in 1825 as the naturalist on board [HMS *Blonde*](/source/HMS_Blonde_(1819)). It is now considered to be a subspecies of the [short-eared owl](/source/Short-eared_owl), *Asio flammeus*, although [Storrs Olson](/source/Storrs_L._Olson) did not consider it to be distinct from *Asio flammeus flammeus*.[3]

## Distribution and population

The pueo inhabits forests and grasslands throughout the Hawai’i archipelago. However, recent surveys suggest that their population is declining, specifically on [Oʻahu](/source/O%CA%BBahu), an island where they were once quite common. O’ahu is the most densely human-populated island, and the most consistently-developed area, in Hawai’i. Additionally, the island is also the location of [the state capital](/source/Honolulu) (and largest city in Hawai’i). Thus, O’ahu is consequentially the most-visited part of Hawai’i by foreigners and tourists, as well—all factors that potentially affect the pueo’s natural range and behaviors. The pueo is recognized as an [endemic](/source/Endemism) subspecies of [short-eared owl](/source/Short-eared_owl) by the state of Hawai’i;[4] on the island of O’ahu, the state currently lists it as an [endangered species](/source/Endangered_species).[5] Nevertheless, the pueo’s presence in Hawai’i is the result of prehistoric human activities, not solely natural evolution or [avian migration](/source/Bird_migration), thus blurring the concept of a true [native species](/source/Native_species). The pueo is thought to have somehow colonized Hawai’i after the arrival of the [Polynesians](/source/Polynesians). This relatively recent arrival of the pueo in Hawai’i may be linked to [Polynesian rats](/source/Polynesian_rat) (*Rattus exulans*), which were brought to the islands by humans.[4] The only truly native land (non-aquatic) mammals in Hawai’i are two species of bat—the [Hawaiian hoary bat](/source/Hawaiian_hoary_bat)[6] and the (extinct) *[Synemporion keana](/source/Synemporion).[7]* A further seven [raptor](/source/Bird_of_prey) species formerly inhabited prehistoric Hawai’i—the [Hawaiian hawk](/source/Hawaiian_hawk), the [wood harrier](/source/Wood_harrier), the [white-tailed eagle](/source/White-tailed_eagle) (or a very close relative of),[8] and four species of [stilt-owls](/source/Stilt-owl).

Much like the related, continental short-eared owls, pueo primarily consume small [mammals](/source/Mammal), which they can expertly detect from far distances with their large eyes, an adaptation for superb [night vision](/source/Night_vision) and hunting after-dark. Their incredibly advanced nocturnal vision also enables them to fly through densely wooded areas with ease, deftly navigating between trees. [Strigiformes](/source/Owl) (owls), as a whole, are well-known for flying silently, and without overly flapping their wings; this ensures their prey does not escape, as they cannot hear or suspect a predator approaching from above. As soon as a choice prey animal is spotted by the pueo, the owl intently glides-over and lands directly on top of it, killing it instantly before flying away, without a sound.

## Threats to survival

Pueo nest on the ground, which makes their [eggs](/source/Bird_egg) and young susceptible to [predation](/source/Predation) by the introduced [small Indian mongoose](/source/Small_Indian_mongoose) and other predators.

Pueo are strongly affected by [light pollution](/source/Light_pollution). They are often killed in vehicular accidents in which they dive toward the headlights of cars, possibly in an attempt to hunt. Many such collisions have been reported on [Interstate H-3](/source/Interstate_H-3) and other newly built roadways in areas which once held high populations of pueo.

Pueo appear to be somewhat resistant to the [avian malaria](/source/Avian_malaria) that has devastated many other endemic bird populations in Hawaii;[5][9] however, they have recently become victim to an unknown mysterious "[sick owl syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sick_owl_syndrome&action=edit&redlink=1)", or SOS, in which large numbers of pueo have been found walking dazedly on roads, leading to death by collision. The cause of sick owl syndrome is unknown; it is suspected that [pesticide](/source/Pesticide) toxicity may be responsible, particularly through secondary [rodenticide](/source/Rodenticide) poisoning. However, it has also been hypothesized that the cause may be an infectious agent, seizure-like confusion due to [light pollution](/source/Light_pollution), or a variety of other causes.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["*Asio flammeus sandwichensis*. NatureServe Explorer 2.0"](https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102905/Asio_flammeus_sandwichensis). *explorer.natureserve.org*. Retrieved 9 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ITIS_2-0)** ["Asio flammeus sandwichensis"](https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=687200). *ITIS Report*. [Integrated Taxonomic Information System](/source/Integrated_Taxonomic_Information_System). Retrieved 2009-02-16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Olson, Storrs L.](/source/Storrs_L._Olson) (1996), ["The contribution of the voyage of H.M.S. *Blonde* to Hawaiian ornithology"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110718105103/http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/8385/1/VZ_269_Blonde_in_Hawaii.pdf) (PDF), *Archives of Natural History*, **23** (1): 1–42, [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3366/anh.1996.23.1.1](https://doi.org/10.3366%2Fanh.1996.23.1.1), archived from [the original](http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/8385/1/VZ_269_Blonde_in_Hawaii.pdf) (PDF) on 2011-07-18, retrieved 2009-12-07

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) ["Pueo"](https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/birds/pueo/). *Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Wildlife Program*. 2021-08-22. Retrieved 2023-04-16.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dlnr_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dlnr_5-1) ["Pueo or Hawaiian Short-eared Owl"](http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/files/2013/09/Fact-Sheet-pueo.pdf) (PDF). *Hawaii's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy*. State of Hawaii. 1 October 2005. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090617024424/http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/files/NAAT%20final%20CWCS/Chapters/Terrestrial%20Fact%20Sheets/raptors/pueo%20NAAT%20final%20!.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-auto_6-0)** Pinzari, Corinna A; Kang, Lin; Michalak, Pawel; Jermiin, Lars S; Price, Donald K; Bonaccorso, Frank J (2020-08-27). ["Analysis of Genomic Sequence Data Reveals the Origin and Evolutionary Separation of Hawaiian Hoary Bat Populations"](https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaa137). *Genome Biology and Evolution*. **12** (9): 1504–1514. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/gbe/evaa137](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fgbe%2Fevaa137). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1759-6653](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1759-6653). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [7543519](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7543519). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [32853363](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32853363).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-paper_7-0)** Ziegler, Alan C.; Howarth, Francis G.; Simmons, Nancy B. (2016-03-21). ["A Second Endemic Land Mammal for the Hawaiian Islands: A New Genus and Species of Fossil Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)"](http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/6641). *American Museum Novitates* (3854): 1–52. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1206/3854.1](https://doi.org/10.1206%2F3854.1). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[2246/6641](https://hdl.handle.net/2246%2F6641). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0003-0082](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0003-0082). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [56234957](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:56234957).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hailer2015_8-0)** Hailer, Frank; James, Helen F.; Olson, Storrs L.; Fleischer, Robert C. (2015). ["Distinct and Extinct: Genetic Differentiation of the Hawaiian Eagle"](http://orca.cf.ac.uk/71249/1/Hailer%20et%20al%20%202015%20MPE%20-%20Hawaiian%20eagle%20-%20postprint.pdf) (PDF). *Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution*. **83**: 40–43. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2015MolPE..83...40H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MolPE..83...40H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.ympev.2014.11.005](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ympev.2014.11.005). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [25463753](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25463753).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Kilpatrick, A. Marm (2006). "Facilitating the evolution of resistance to avian malaria in Hawaiian birds". *Biological Conservation*. **128** (4): 475–485. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2006BCons.128..475K](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006BCons.128..475K). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.biocon.2005.10.014](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.biocon.2005.10.014). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0006-3207](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0006-3207). ...one of the multiple stressors that have devastated the native bird community of Hawai'i.

## External links

- [More information with sounds produced by the pueo](https://web.archive.org/web/20071211193449/http://homepage.mac.com/juanwilson/islandbreath/%20Year%202005/a05-20-nature/0520-03pueo.html)

- [Article on the pueo by Veronica S. Schweitzer](http://www.coffeetimes.com/mar98.htm)

Taxon identifiers Asio flammeus sandwichensis Wikidata: Q7258519 Wikispecies: Asio flammeus sandwichensis BOW: sheowl4 CoL: 7JC25 eBird: sheowl4 EoL: 1274168 GBIF: 6176236 iNaturalist: 236946 ITIS: 687200 NatureServe: 2.102905

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pueo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.