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Chinese hwamei are roughly the same size as cardinals. Their plumage is rusty brown save for distinctive white bands around their eyes. Their most notable feature, however, has to be their lovely song.

Manu Minute: The melodious laughingthrush

Not all birds like their names. But you'll hear no complaints from the melodious laughingthrush.

Koloa maoli, Hawaiˊi's endemic duck species, served as guides for the legendary blind warrior king Imaikalini.

Did you know that Hawaiʻi has an endemic species of duck? This native waterfowl, called the Koloa maoli, resemble introduced mallard ducks, but they have a quack all their own. Listen in to this Manu Minute, made with recordings from Xeno Canto.

House finches are medium-sized birds that weigh about the same as a handful of paperclips. They are sexually dimorphic — male house finches have distinctive bright yellow or red feathers around their faces and chests.

Manu Minute: The multi-colored house finch

Male house finches are pro-singers. They can even sing while they're flying!

Wild turkeys have iridescent black-brown plumage. Wild turkeys mostly eat tender green plant shoots, as well as various seeds, fruits, grain, and insects. They tend to roam in disturbed grasslands and woodlands, so they are less likely to spread invasive species than other game-birds like Kalij pheasants.

Manu Minute: The transforming turkey

Though not your standard songbird, the wild turkey's "Gobble Gobble Gobble" has been charting at number one in the bird world for 200 straight Thanksgivings. You can hear the smash hit on today's Manu Minute.

The ʻalawi is a small Hawaiian honeycreeper. Adults are about the length of popsicle sticks and have olive-green plumage. Due to their similar size and color, ʻalawi are confused with ʻamakihi. Pro-tip: ʻAlawi have a more pronounced black eye mask.

Manu Minute: ʻAlawi, the Hawaiʻi creeper

At first glance, it's easy to mistake an ʻalawi for an ʻamakihi. But these little birds have songs that are entirely their own.

Image 1: A male Indian peafowl, also known as a peacock.

Manu Minute: How did the peacock get its tail?

In spite of their lavish appearance, Indian peafowl are actually quite common. Native to India and Sri Lanka, these birds have been introduced throughout the world. We have their song for you, thanks to the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

΄Ua΄u kani, also known as wedge-tailed shearwaters, are mainly dark brown-grey with light-colored white underparts. As their name describes, they have wedge-shaped tails. Their bills are long, slender, and slightly hooked. Their wingspan is over 3 feet.

Manu Minute: The moaning wedge-tailed shearwater

The moaning wedge-tailed shearwater is the star of Manu Minute today, thanks to recordings from the Macaulay Library at Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Red-billed leiothrix are brightly colored birds with olive-green plumage on their heads, napes, and backs. Their throats are bright yellow-orange, and their wings are olive-brown with red, orange, and yellow striped patches. They have bright red bills with pinkish-yellow legs and feet, and forked tails.

Manu Minute: The tricky red-billed leiothrix

At just over 5 inches beak to tail, the red-billed leiothrix is small enough to sit comfortably in the palm of your hand. But don't underestimate them — their song packs a punch.

Hunakai, also known as Sanderlings, are small-medium sized shorebirds, between 7-8 inches long with wingspans of almost 14 inches. Due to their small size, they’re often referred to as one of the “peep” sized sandpipers.

Manu Minute: Sanderlings in the sea foam

There are a few more weeks to spot the visiting sanderlings, which come to Hawaiʻi every winter. We've got their song for you, thanks to the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Rose-ringed parakeets are bright, emerald green birds with orange-red hooked bills and long, pointed tails. Males have red or black neck rings, hence their name.

Manu Minute: The rose-ringed parakeet

Pets to pests… On this week’s Manu Minute, we’ve got the songs, or rather squawks of the introduced rose-ringed parakeet. That’s courtesy of recordings from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

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