Scissor-billed koa finch facts for kids

The scissor-billed koa finch (Rhodacanthis forfex), also called the scissor finch, was a type of Hawaiian honeycreeper. This bird is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists anywhere on Earth. It was special because it had a unique bill shaped like scissors.

This finch lived only on the islands of Maui and Kauaʻi in the Hawaiian Islands. This means it was endemic to these islands, found nowhere else in the world. The scissor-billed koa finch and another bird called the primitive koa finch disappeared before Europeans first arrived in Hawaii in 1778.

What Did the Scissor Finch Eat?

The scissor-billed koa finch was a granivore, which means it mostly ate seeds. Like other birds in its group, it had a strong bill perfect for cracking open hard seeds and pods from legume plants.

Scientists have found clues from pollen and fossils. These clues suggest that the finch probably ate seeds from plants like Ka palupalu o Kanaloa (Kanaloa kahoolawensis) and koaiʻa (Acacia koaia). It might also have eaten caterpillars and ʻaʻaliʻi (Dodonaea viscosa) berries.

Why Did the Scissor Finch Disappear?

Because this bird became extinct a long time ago, we don't know much about it. Scientists only know about the scissor-billed koa finch from its fossil remains.

Other Hawaiian honeycreepers have also become extinct or very rare. This often happened because their homes (habitats) were destroyed. New animals brought to the islands, like predators, also caused problems. Bird diseases could also have played a role. It is likely that these same reasons led to the extinction of the scissor-billed koa finch.