Nihoa Finch

The Nihoa finch, Telespiza ultima, is a small passerine bird endemic to the remote Hawaiian island of Nihoa. It bears a resemblance to the Laysan finch but is notably smaller and less dark. The bird is characterized by a yellow throat, a front streaked with brown, and a brown head and back marked with black streaks. It measures approximately 6 inches in length.

Identification Tips

To identify the Nihoa finch, look for its distinctive yellow throat and the brown and black streaking on its head and back. Its smaller size can help differentiate it from the similar Laysan finch.

Habitat

The Nihoa finch is found exclusively on Nihoa Island, where it has adapted to the island's unique environment. It builds nests in small crevices within the rocky cliffs that rise from 100 to 800 feet above sea level.

Distribution

This bird is endemic to Nihoa Island, which is part of the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge provides protected land for the Nihoa finch to inhabit.

Behaviour

The Nihoa finch is known to build its nests in the rocky cliffs of Nihoa. Its breeding season commences in February and can extend into early July. The species typically lays a clutch of three eggs, and the young finches will acquire their adult plumage within a year.

Diet and Feeding

The Nihoa finch has a varied diet that includes the eggs of seabirds, small arthropods, and the seeds and flowers of native flora.

Conservation status

The Nihoa finch is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. It was added to the Endangered Species List by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on March 11, 1967. Conservation efforts included an unsuccessful attempt to establish a colony on French Frigate Shoals to protect the species from potential extinction on Nihoa.