Lesser Koa Finch

The lesser koa finch (Rhodacanthis flaviceps) is an extinct species of Hawaiian honeycreeper. The bird appeared to have always had a small population.[citation needed] When people brought cattle and created ranches in the koa forests, the younger koa trees began to be trampled by the cows. The cows also stripped the leaves off the trees at a faster rate than the leaves normally fell. The older trees were too tall to be defoliated, but their roots were kicked and pulled out, causing them to grow weak and eventually die. With the loss of the native koa trees the last birds began to die off. Finally, the bird was never seen after the year 1891.