Lesser koa finch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lesser koa finch |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Rhodacanthis
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| Species: |
flaviceps
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The lesser koa finch (Rhodacanthis flaviceps) was a type of Hawaiian honeycreeper that is now extinct. This means it no longer exists anywhere in the world. It was a small bird that lived only in the forests of Hawaii.
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What the Lesser Koa Finch Looked Like
Scientists only ever found a few lesser koa finches. These birds were a family group, which helped scientists learn about them. Male lesser koa finches were bright golden-yellow. They had olive green feathers on their chest and belly.
Female lesser koa finches looked a lot like their bigger relatives, the greater koa finch. However, the females of this species were a bit darker in color. Young birds had a mottled (spotty) pattern on their bellies, similar to the females. As its name suggests, the lesser koa finch was smaller than other koa finches. It was usually about five inches long.
Life and Habits of the Lesser Koa Finch
The lesser koa finch's life was closely linked to the koa tree. This tree was very important for the birds. They ate nectar and fruit from the koa tree. The tree also gave them their name.
Small groups of these finches would hide in the koa trees. This helped them stay safe from people. It also protected them from the hot midday sun. These birds were sometimes seen with the larger greater koa-finch. A few specimens (dead birds) were collected. They were sent to museums in cities like London, New York, and Berlin for study.
Why the Lesser Koa Finch Disappeared
The lesser koa finch always had a small population. This means there were never many of them. When people brought cattle to Hawaii, things changed. The cattle created ranches in the koa forests.
The cows trampled and ate the young koa trees. They also stripped leaves from older trees. This made the big trees weak, and they eventually died. Without their main food source and home, the last lesser koa finches began to die off. The bird was never seen again after the year 1891.
Only two confirmed sightings of these birds were ever recorded. This was when the first and last specimens were collected. In total, eight specimens were found. All of them were in trees also used by the greater koa finch. Other similar bird species lived at that time. Some were found on Oahu, Maui, and Kona.
See also
In Spanish: Pinzón koa menor para niños
