Five stars for Mandy Talpas and her 10-day, 3-island Hawaii birding tour that just wrapped up. Mandy found every one of the birds we targeted, shared her deep knowledge of and passion for Hawaii and its birds and habitats, and made the trip fun with her infectious personality. I recommend Mandy without reservation.
Fun & Informative Small Group Birding Adventures in Hawaiʻi & Beyond
Enjoy Endemic & Pelagic Birds of Hawaiʻi with Passionate Guides
Aloha! Welcome to Hawaiʻi Bird Tours, where our dedicated and educated team of guides are excited to share their knowledge and passion for birds with you on unforgettable tours. Our keen birding senses combined with unrivalled knowledge of plumages and flight patterns of almost every species means you’ll be getting what you expect when booking a birding tour. We also strive to share Hawaii’s history, culture, flora and fauna while personally catering to each guest in a fun, and informative environment with gregarious guides where everybody can enjoy a pleasant time in nature. Our day trips provide a range of experiences on both land and water across the islands of Hawaiʻi, as we search for endemic forest species and pelagics: from the iconic Hawaiian Honeycreepers to the endangered water birds, including the Hawaiian Goose, Black-necked Stilt, and Hawaiian Duck
If you’re new to birding in Hawaiʻi, looking to explore multiple islands, or just overwhelmed with how to make the most of your visit, we encourage you to consider our multi-day birding tours. These all-inclusive experiences are designed to be carefree bucket list trips by our local experts for the best birding experiences in Hawaiʻi. Our birdwatching adventures aren’t just limited to Hawaiʻi, we travel the world over to bring you the best birding experiences! Check out our international trips for life-affirming tours to South America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the Pacific.
Read Why People Love Us
Five stars for Mandy Talpas and her 10-day, 3-island Hawaii birding tour that just wrapped up. Mandy found every one of the birds we targeted, shared her deep knowledge of and passion for Hawaii and its birds and habitats, and made the trip fun with her infectious personality. I recommend Mandy without reservation.
Mandy is an absolutely excellent guide to all of the birds of Hawaii. Our birding tour booked with Hawaii Bird Tours for 10 days. Mandy made sure each of us got a look at the birds that appeared. Mandy knows many of the birds as individuals, which testifies to her dedication to protecting and loving what she does. She is very respectful of the environment and of the relationships each native bird species has with its habitat. Mandy is highly respected and active in the local environmental and conservation groups, a fact that gave us unique insights to the dynamics in birding in the Hawaiian islands. We felt honored to have access to remote regions and to experience the birds in their native habitats.
I cannot sing enough praises of Mandy who in addition to being a superb birding guide, is a kind and thoughtful person. This was an unforgettable tour.
Very occasionally you meet and spend time with someone whos infectious enthusiasm, passion and commitment to a chosen endeavour erodes a little of your cynicism and restores a huge chunk of your faith in humanity. Mandy Talpas is one such individual.
I have just had the pleasure of spending six days with Mandy birding and photographing on Oahu and Big island. The brief was to get me as many endemics as possible and get me into a position to get some good photos. I have been let down before when my expectations of a trip fell short but on this occassion I need not have worried. Mandy found all the important birds and gained me great access to areas where I could get my photographs. Mandy was always considerate and patient which made for a pleasant birding experience, sharing her knowledge of the Islands, its plants, native peoples and its imperilled birdlife.
I highly recommend hiring Mandy as a birding guide. She help me get some of the hardest birds in Kauai, Hawaii on a custom trip on my ABA Big Year 2018. We got the Anianiau, Kauai Amakihi, Akeke’e, Akikiki, and Puaiaohi along the Mohihi-Waiale Trail. We hiked 7 to 8 miles to achieve this goal 2 different days in a row. It is tough up-and-down terrain and wet and muddy in places but breath taking too. She is willing to go the distance by returning the next day and hiking rain or shine. Always pointing out hazard spots that could possibly trip you up. She is very friendly and easy to talk to you if you want to talk. Outstanding birder that will find the birds for you.
Five stars for Mandy Talpas and her 10-day, 3-island Hawaii birding tour that just wrapped up. Mandy found every one of the birds we targeted, shared her deep knowledge of and passion for Hawaii and its birds and habitats, and made the trip fun with her infectious personality. I recommend Mandy without reservation.
I loved my birding in Hawaii with Mandy. I highly recommend her guided birding tours. Mandy found us the local specialties across the three islands we visited without rushing or stressing over logistics. I appreciate her local knowledge and her ability to put the birds and environment in context. It is encouraging to see the efforts being invested to preserve and improve sensitive Hawaii habitats. Seeing the results, in terms of wild spaces and the birds that thrive there, was a great counterweight to understanding how and why some species will not continue to survive in the wild.
I was on the April 10-19, 2023 “Hawaii’s Best Birding Tour: Endemics to Palagics” with a fun group of birders. Thank you, Mandy, for making it a great experience.
Passionate Expert Birding Guides
5-Star Reviews
All Levels of Birders Welcome
Life Affirming Experiences
Custom Tours
Can’t find the birding experience your looking for? Then our Custom Tour offerings might be just the ticket! These are personalized experiences designed to cater to you and we also have some suggested trips for you to take a look at if you’re looking for inspiration. Contact us today for more information and we’ll help you book your dream birding extravaganza!
The Hawaiʻi Bird Tours Promise
Our goal with every birding trip is to help you view, learn about, and enjoy more birds! Whether you envision casually cruising the coastline in search of seabirds, chasing after endemic forest birds, exploring local hot spots, or all of the above! We’re a team dedicated to providing customized excursions to create your ultimate Hawaiʻi birding experience. Our promise on every eco-tour is to ensure that each guest is having a great time while learning about Hawaii’s alluring flora and fauna and we put conservation at the forefront. We look forward to sharing with you Hawaii’s beautiful birds, unique wildlife, and the projects in place to help save them.
Every year, a handful of birders join us on what many describe as the birding trip of a lifetime.
Just 8 guests.
Hawaiʻi-based guide.
Extraordinary birds.
Our December 1–10, 2026 “Hawaiʻi’s Endemics to Pelagics” adventure brings together the islands’ most spectacular birds, breathtaking landscapes, and the local knowledge you won’t find anywhere else.
Because we keep this tour intentionally small we only have a few seats remaining.
If Hawaiʻi’s honeycreepers, albatrosses, petrels, seabirds, native forests, and unforgettable sunrises have been on your bucket list, this is the time.
Once these final spaces are filled, registration will close. Prices are higher for most of our 2027 tours.
Reserve your place here: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/87627295#about-this-trip
#HawaiiBirdTours #BirdingHawaii #BirdingTravel #BirdWatching #NatureTravel #BirdPhotography #ConservationTravel #BucketListBirding
Mandy’s Alaska guiding adventure connected her with another beloved Hawaiʻi wintertime resident - the Bristle-thighed Curlew, or Kioea. In Alaska, the Yupʻik name for these remarkable birds is Ciivikaaq.
Every autumn, these extraordinary shorebirds leave their breeding grounds in western Alaska and embark on one of the longest nonstop flights of any shorebird—crossing thousands of miles of open Pacific Ocean to spend the winter on tropical islands.
Unlike the familiar Kōlea, Bristle-thighed Curlews are much more elusive. They winter on remote islands across the Pacific, including parts of Hawaiʻi, where they forage along beaches, coastal flats, and grassy shorelines.
Their Hawaiian winter home offers warm weather and abundant food while Alaska’s tundra is locked in snow and ice. In spring, they make the incredible journey north once again to raise the next generation under Alaska’s endless summer daylight.
These birds are as fascinating as they are rare. Named for the distinctive bristle-like feathers beneath their tails, they are also known for using tools—one of the few shorebirds observed using rocks to crack open seabird eggs on their nesting grounds.
Today, the Bristle-thighed Curlew is considered Vulnerable due to its small population and threats from introduced predators on many Pacific islands. Every sighting is a reminder of how closely Alaska and Hawaiʻi are connected—and why protecting both breeding and wintering habitats matters.
Have you ever been lucky enough to spot a Bristle-thighed Curlew in Hawaiʻi?
📷 Share your photos or tell us where you’ve seen one below!
#BristleThighedCurlew #HawaiiBirdTours #BirdMigration #Birding #AlaskaBirds #Shorebirds #Conservation #HawaiiBirds #PacificIslands #BirdWatching #ProtectWildlife
Smiles like these are why we love what we do.
Sam recently had the pleasure of guiding the Engler family on our Hilo Endemic Birding Adventure, spending the day exploring Hawaiʻi Island’s incredible native forests in search of some of the world’s rarest birds.
From the excitement of spotting colorful honeycreepers through binoculars to sharing stories about Hawaiʻi’s unique wildlife and conservation efforts, every tour is filled with unforgettable moments, laughter, and discovery. Sam’s passion, knowledge, and genuine enthusiasm make every outing feel like birding with a longtime friend.
Whether you’re an experienced birder or just discovering the joy of watching birds, our Hilo Endemic Birding Adventure is designed to immerse you in one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on Earth.
Mahalo to the Engler family for spending the day with us—we loved sharing Hawaiʻi’s remarkable birds with you! 💚🐦
Ready for your own adventure? We’d love to show you why so many guests say this becomes one of the highlights of their Hawaiʻi vacation.
👉 Learn more and book your adventure (link in bio):
https://hawaiibirdtours.com/tour/hilo-endemic-birding-adventure/
#HawaiiBirdTours #Birding #BirdWatching #BigIsland #Hilo #HawaiiIsland #NativeBirds #BirdingAdventure #Conservation #HawaiiWildlife #FamilyTravel #NatureLovers #BirdPhotography