Big Island Kona Birding Excursion
August-June: 7am-4pm
Explore the leeward side of Big Island with Hawaii’s premier bird guides. From the sub-alpine dry forest on the slopes of Mauna Kea searching for the rare and endangered Palila down to the coast looking for endemic water birds and introduced specialties.
Highlight Target Species
Palila, Hawaii Amakihi, Apapane, Hawaii Elepaio, Hawaiian Goose, Hawaiian Coot, Short-eared Owl, Eurasian Skylark, Erckel’s Francolin, Gray Francolin, Chestunut-bellied Sandgrouse, African Silverbill
“We birded the whole island, changing from forest birds to sea birds. It was a great tour and really nice to get out of the city. I was able to see plenty of species too! Highly recommend!”
Price
$245 per person
Private tours available
Duration
9 hours
Dates
August-June: 7am-4pm
Group Size
5-7
Details
Pricing
Group tour: $245 per person plus tax
Private tour: $1595 plus tax (up to 8 people)
Or contact us to build a custom tour.
Included
Water, snacks, online checklists, local picnic lunch, transportation to and from Kona, the use of binoculars if needed, the use of a spotting scope, and fun! Guests coming from the outside of Kona can easily meet us on in Kona.
Activity Level
You must be prepared to walk 1 mile on uneven trails.
Recommendations
Lightweight long pants, hiking shoes, lightweight sweater/ fleece, camera, binoculars, sun protection, quick dry layered clothing, a daypack for carrying your lunch and water into the field, and rain gear, as the trail difficulty is not challenging but conditions may be cool, cloudy and slippery with an incline. We will be birding between 7,000′ and 8,500′ above sea level in the subalpine dry forest of Mauna Kea. This habitat often experiences frost in the winter months with less than 20″ of rainfall per year (although the understory is often covered with dew).
Cancellation
For group trips: There is a 48-hour cancelation policy for all daily tours. If you cancel prior to 48 hours of the tour, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel within 48 hours of your scheduled trip departure, no refund fees will be provided. No shows are responsible for 100% of trip fees.
For private tours: There is a 7-day cancelation policy for all private tours. Credit cards will be taken at the time of booking. If you cancel outside of 7-days, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel within 7 days of the tour no refund fees will be provided. No shows are responsible for 100% of trip fees.
Birds You May See
Highlight target species: Palila, Hawaii Amakihi, Apapane, Hawaii Elepaio, Hawaiian Goose, Hawaiian Coot, Short-eared Owl, Eurasian Skylark, Erckel’s Francolin, Gray Francolin, Chestunut-bellied Sandgrouse, African Silverbill
Coming soon:
A Comprehensive Checklist of the Birds of Hawaii
A free, downloadable guide with information on the best time of year to see each every expected species in Hawaii, complete with emphasis on endemic, threatened, and endangered species.
Get Notified When this Guide is Released:
Meet Your Guide
Mandy Talpas
My 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. I am dedicated to providing customized excursions to create your ultimate Hawaii birding experience.
My 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. When I’m not guiding I am proud to be involved in local avian conservation initiatives. I look forward to sharing Hawaii’s beautiful birds, unique wildlife, and the projects in place to help save them, with you.

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Need another reason to book this tour?
This is the only tour of its kind! Other all-inclusive birding tours to Hawaii rush through on a cookie-cutter itinerary. Mandy has made Hawaii her permanent home and earns a living off of taking birders out of the city limits to experience the best Hawaii has to offer on a daily basis. She looks forward to sharing Hawaii’s birds, wildlife, food, scenery, history and culture with new friends.
