| |

Online Field Guides

ByKate Righter

These are just a few online resources that I’ve found to help identify the amazing array of species in Hawaii. View this post for links to books you can purchase to bring with you on outings or have available in your classroom

In this post you will find:

  • General Resoures: Plants, animals, and insects
  • Plant specific databases
  • Marine life resources
  • Community science and identification tools

Flora and Fauna — including plants, animals, and insects

Hawaii Biodiversity: https://hawaiibiodiversity.org/

Pilina Inoa (identification using Hawaiian taxonomy): https://www.pilinainoa.com/

Hawaiian Forest- Photography by the late, great Nate Yuen: https://hawaiianforest.com/wp

Starr Envionmental Photography: http://www.starrenvironmental.com/

Photos and links to information about plants and birds: https://wildlifeofhawaii.com

Wetland and dryland forest habitat information: https://healthyclimatecommunities.org/project-site/

Botany — Plant specific databases

Native Plants Hawaii (note that their search function doesn’t work): http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/

Bishop Museum’s https://plantsofhawaii.org/

Seeds of Hawaii – lovingly photographed with beautiful, zoomed in details: https://seedsofhawaii.org/

Noah Lang Photography – Native Plant Guide – https://noahlangphotography.com/blog/native-hawaiian-plant-guide

Edible weeds: https://nomoola.com/weeds-id/ (note: eat wild plants at your own risk; if you’re in any doubt confirm the identity with an expert or don’t eat them.)

Hawaiian native plant database from UH: http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/natives.htm

Lichen database: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/lifesciences/lichen-pictures/

Moss research: https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/items/83692e7c-f27e-4f53-bae3-fd67fdabe43c

Marine Life — The sea and the shore

DLNR has a great, simple illustrated guide of commonly found fish, invertebrates, and corals, and algae.

More State of Hawaii marine animal resources: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/species/

Keoki Stender’s marine life ID site (plus land flora and fauna as well!): https://www.marinelifephotography.com/

Maui Ocean Center database: https://mauioceancenter.com/hawaiis-marine-life/

Waikiki Aquarium virtual experiences and animal, plant, and seaweed guide: https://www.waikikiaquarium.org/experience/

Guide to invasive marine species, including seaweed, corals, fish, and jellyfish: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ais/marine-invasive-species/

University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Marine Algae Pages: https://www.hawaii.edu/reefalgae/natives/sgfieldguide.htm

General algae webpage: www.algaebase.org

Printable reference sheets of common intertidal organisms: https://www.hawaii.edu/gk-12/opihi/assistants_home.shtml

Birds

DLNR has two great sites to choose from:
The Native Birds of Hawaii database includes links to information, photos, recordings, and more about all the native species in Hawaii.
The Species Fact Sheets database has printable pdfs with species information as well as conservation action plans.

List of common seabirds with photos from Hawaii Marine Animal Response. A more in-depth listing from Cascadia Research.

Pacific Rim Conservation’s bird image galleries: https://pacificrimconservation.org/image-galleries/

Community ID

Your other option is to upload photos to a community based program (available as apps orwebsites) — which also helps with compiling data for use by scientists worldwide.

All of nature: https://www.inaturalist.org

Birds: https://ebird.org/home

Mushrooms: https://mushroomobserver.org

There are also a number of Facebook groups where helpful members will help with identification.

Similar Posts