Nihoa Finch

The Nihoa Finch is one of the two endemic bird species of the tiny Hawaiian island Nihoa, the other being the Nihoa Millerbird. When it was classified in 1917, scientists thought that it would be the last endemic species named. This was later found untrue. The island's population is 1000-3000 birds. The Nihoa Finch was put down on the Endangered Species List by the US.

The Nihoa Finch is classified as Critically Endangered (CR), facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Nihoa Finches are found only on the tiny island of Nihoa, in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This bird is common in its very limited range, but with just one restricted population, it is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. Nihoa Finches are also vulnerable to the introduction of non-native plants and insects, but access to Nihoa is restricted and visitors are carefully searched before being allowed to enter the island. More

No one who has encountered the fearless Laysan and Nihoa finches can remain uncharmed. Having evolved without terrestrial ground predators and with few avian predators, they readily approach other animals that they encounter, including humans, and are easily captured. In the absence of humans, their intense curiosity is adaptive for their omnivorous feeding habits, but in the presence of humans, this intense curiosity can be non-adaptive. More

studies of the Nihoa Finch and the Laysan Finch in 1980. Her research revealed that food type and availability has influenced the evolution of the size and shape of the beaks of these birds. Dr. Conant's findings confirm that these birds can adapt rapidly (produce offspring with more appropriate beaks) to changes in food type and availability. For many years, similar research was conducted on the Galapagos Islands by Peter and Rosemary Grant of Princeton University. More

The endangered Nihoa Finch is an endemic that lives only on the island of Nihoa.The endangered Nihoa Finch (Telespyza ultima ) is an endemic that lives only on the island of Nihoa. It prefers open but vegetated habitat, nesting in small holes in rock outcrops 100 to 800 feet (30.5 to 244 meters) above sea level (Photo: USFWS/Craig Rowland) he endangered Nihoa Millerbird is an endemic bird found only on Nihoa. More

The Nihoa Finch (Telespiza ultima) is one of the two endemic bird species of the tiny Hawaiian island Nihoa, the other being the Nihoa Millerbird. When it was classified in 1917, scientists thought that it would be the last endemic species named. This was later found untrue. The island's population is 1000-3000 birds. The Nihoa Finch was put down on the Endangered Species List by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on March 11, 1967. More

The Nihoa Finch is endemic to Nihoa Island, a small, rocky island about 63 ha in total size, with a high point of 277 m. It has steep cliffs on three sides, making landing difficult. There are several freshwater seeps on the island. Nihoa was inhabited by the Polynesians from 1000 to 1700 A.D., with a population of as many as 175 people, but since then it has been uninhabited. It is part of the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. More

Information on the Nihoa finch is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly. Authentication - This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact: arkive@wildscreen.org.uk References - 1. IUCN Red List (June, 2009) http://www.iucnredlist. More

Nihoa Finch looks much like the Laysan Finch but is smaller, and less dark.The diet of this bird includes items like sea birds eggs, small athropods, the seeds and flowers of some of the native flora. The birds have a yellow throat and the front is streaked with brown, the head and back are brown streaked with black. It measures about 6 inches in length. Nihoa Finches build their nests in small spaces in rocky cliffs about 100 to 800 feet above the sea level. More

Nihoa Finches build their nests in small holes in rock outcrops 100 to 800 feet above sea level. Egg laying begins in February and may extend to early July, with an average clutch of three eggs. This bird feeds on seabird eggs, insects, seeds, and flower buds. During the nesting season birds nest in holes in cliff outcroppings. More

Nihoa Finch to the Main Hawaiian Islands, and translocation efforts may focus on the Northwestern Islands. Conservation measures proposed Continue monitoring. Ensure strict protocols prevent further accidental introductions of alien species. Introduce a population to Kure atoll and (following removal of mice and mosquitos) to Midway atoll. Restore another island for future translocation. References 1. H. Baker and P. Baker in litt. (1999). 2. Berger (1972). 3. J. Lepson in litt. (1999). 4. Morin et al. (1997). 5. More

The Nihoa Finch was put down on the Endangered Species List by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on March 11, 1967. An attempt to protect the species against extinction was made by starting a colony on French Frigate Shoals, another leeward island. This would ensure its continued existence in the event that the Nihoa population was wiped out. This attempt, however, failed. More

The Nihoa finch is very similar to the Laysan finch but smaller. The male has a bright yellow head, neck, and breast with a broad grey band between the neck and mid-back. The lower back and rump of the male are gray. Females have a yellow throat and breast streaked with brown, the head and back are brown streaked with black. It measures about 6 inches in length. More

Nihoa finch and Nihoa millerbird, are found only on Nihoa. Native endangered plants include a loulu or fan palm and 'ohai shrub. Basalt underlies most shallow water habitats surrounding Nihoa. Limu (algae), wana (sea urchin), and opihi (limpet) inhabit these shallow waters, while sharks and jacks hover in deeper waters offshore. The submerged coral reef habitat covers about 142,000 acres with seventeen species of stony corals documented. More

Unlike Laysan finches, Nihoa finches acquire adult plumage in a single year. Nihoa finches are also smaller than Laysan finches, and are reported to have less obvious sexual dimorphism. In addition, immature Nihoa finches are darker and more extensively streaked than immature Laysan finches. The weights of six captive Nihoa finches ranged between 21 and 28 grams. More

The Nihoa Finch will get its adult plumage in about a single year. In the picture to the right, there are the two genders of the Nihoa Finch. - ABOUT ME More