Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Koloa Maoli is one of Hawaiʻi’s four endemic waterfowl species, along with the Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose), ʻAlae Keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian Coot), and Laysan Duck. Quite similar in appearance to the female Mallard, although significantly smaller, the Koloa Maoli is easy to miss as a long-time native species of the Islands, and indeed, many who live in Hawaiʻi are unaware of its existence. In fact, this species has been a part of the ecosystems of the Hawaiian Islands for thousands of years. "Koloa Maoli" refers specifically to the native Hawaiian duck species and is sometimes shortened to Koloa, but "Koloa" can also refer to other migratory or introduced ducks.
As a dabbling duck, the Koloa Maoli is specifically adapted for two rather odd-looking foraging strategies. One of these is for the bird to tip its body upside down, its front half underwater and back half in the air. In this position, the Koloa Maoli can forage in the layers of mud at the bottom of shallow waters. The Koloa Maoli can also skim the surface of the water in a type of filter feeding. Almost like baleen whales, these birds run water through their bills, which are lined with a comb-like array of small projections called lamellae. These lamellae allow the ducks to strain small food items like seeds and invertebrates from the water.
Learn more at https://abcbirds.org./koloa-maoli
The Koloa Maoli is one of Hawaiʻi’s four endemic waterfowl species, along with the Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose), ʻAlae Keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian Coot), and Laysan Duck. Quite similar in appearance to the female Mallard, although significantly smaller, the Koloa Maoli is easy to miss as a long-time native species of the Islands, and indeed, many who live in Hawaiʻi are unaware of its existence. In fact, this species has been a part of the ecosystems of the Hawaiian Islands for thousands of years. "Koloa Maoli" refers specifically to the native Hawaiian duck species and is sometimes shortened to Koloa, but "Koloa" can also refer to other migratory or introduced ducks.
As a dabbling duck, the Koloa Maoli is specifically adapted for two rather odd-looking foraging strategies. One of these is for the bird to tip its body upside down, its front half underwater and back half in the air. In this position, the Koloa Maoli can forage in the layers of mud at the bottom of shallow waters. The Koloa Maoli can also skim the surface of the water in a type of filter feeding. Almost like baleen whales, these birds run water through their bills, which are lined with a comb-like array of small projections called lamellae. These lamellae allow the ducks to strain small food items like seeds and invertebrates from the water.
Learn more at https://abcbirds.org./koloa-maoli
