Hawaiian Bird Records Committee (HBRC)

The Hawaiian Bird Records Committee (HBRC) was formed in 2014 to provide a formal venue and standardized protocol for reviewing bird records in the Hawaiian Islands. The committee maintains the official Hawaiian Islands bird checklist and evaluates reports of rare bird observations from across the archipelago.

HBRC serves birders, researchers, and conservationists by ensuring that records are reviewed consistently and transparently, contributing to a reliable historical record of avifauna in Hawaiʻi.

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Inca Tern
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American Bitten

What the HBRC Does

The committee:
Reviews reports of rare and unusual birds observed in the Hawaiian Islands
Evaluates submitted documentation using established review standards
Publishes the results of accepted and not accepted records
Maintains and updates the official Hawaiian Islands bird checklist
HBRC encourages all birders to contribute to this effort by submitting reports of rare bird observations.
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Surfbird

How to Submit a Rare Bird Report

Birders are encouraged to submit rare bird observations using one of the following methods
eBird
Add your observations to Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website
Direct submission to HBRC
Email the committee chair with supporting materials
Rare Bird Report Form
Download and complete the fillable form linked below
Submissions should include as much documentation as possible, such as:
A written description of the bird and the sighting circumstances
Field notes
Photographs, video, or audio recordings
Sketches or other supporting materials
Download the HBRC Rare Bird Report Form

HBRC Members

Chair
Eric VanderWerf
3038 Oahu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96822
 eric@pacificrimconservation.org

Vice-Chair
Reginald David
davidr003@hawaii.rr.com

Other Members

Kellen Apuna (kellenapuna.ebird@gmail.com)
Peter Donaldson (pdnldsn.bird@mac.com)
Kurt Pohlman (kurtpohlman1@gmail.com)
Thane Pratt (thane.ebird@gmail.com)
Douglas Pratt (DPratt14@nc.rr.com)
Peter Pyle (ppyle@birdpop.org)

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Grey Heron

Publications

The HBRC published its second report in March 2025, which covered reports submitted from 2017-2024. The report was published in Western Birds. The HBRC thanks the editorial staff at Western Birds for help and advice in completing our second report. Moving forward, the HBRC will continue to review reports of species that would be new to the Hawaiian Islands or that have been recorded five or fewer times.
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White Wagtail

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