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Laysan Finch

Telespiza cantansOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Finches (Fringillidae)

Laysan Finch Portrait
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General

Laysan Finch: Large, curious finch. Bright yellow head, neck, and breast. Becomes more yellow and less streaked with each molt. Neck has a gray collar, belly is white. Olive back may show narrow brown streaks. Lower back and rump is gray, wings are olive to brown. Large, gray bill. Female is similar, duller yellow with more streaking, back has brown spots. Juvenile has brown-streaked, yellow face,crown, throat and upper breast. Gray back and rump, wing feathers are brown edged in yellow and white.

Range and Habitat

Laysan Finch: Endemic to Laysan Island. Prefers heavily forested areas.

Voice Text

"pee-o-wheet"

Interesting Facts

  • The song of the Laysan Finch has been described as "canary-like", for this reason it is sometimes called the Laysan Canary.
  • Rabbits were introduced to Laysan Island in 1903, they devoured the vegetation causing the numbers of this bird to drop to around 100; other endemic species became extinct. These birds survived the lean times by eating eggs and dead birds.
  • They are also often called Hawaiian Finches, a name that while old now more closely reflects their recent classification as Fringilidae by the AOU.
  • A group of honeycreepers are collectively known as a "hive" of honeycreepers.


Author

Crystal Adams

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Range Map for Laysan Finch
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family
Species Telespiza cantans
Length7.5 Inches
Wingspan Inches

Laysan Finch

Laysan Finch: Large, curious Hawaiian honeycreeper. Bright yellow head, neck, breast. Neck has a gray collar, belly is white. Olive back may show narrow brown streaks. Lower back, rump are gray, wings are olive to brown. Large, gray bill, black legs and feet. Prefers to run or hop along the ground.

● Song: "pee-o-wheet"

● Foraging & Feeding: Laysan Finch: Very adaptable and omnivorous. Feeds on seeds, invertebrates, roots, carrion, and seabird eggs.

● Breeding & nesting: Laysan Finch: Four to five white eggs with small blotches and spots of brown or lilac-gray are laid in a cup-shaped nest in the crotch of a tree. Incubated by female for 15 to 16 days.

● Similar species: Laysan Finch: Not likely to be confused with any other species.

Flight Pattern

Laysan Finch Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Laysan Finch: Endemic to Laysan Island. Prefers heavily forested areas.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationEndangered
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight0.34 Ounces