Laysan Finch (Telespiza cantans) | Photos and ID

VUVulnerableEndemicOmnivore

GrasslandCup nestSmall · 33 g

Laysan Finch (Telespiza cantans), photo 1 — Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service · Public domain

ID tip

The Laysan finch is a large honeycreeper with a heavy bill. Overall the male has yellow plumage with a whitish belly and a grey neck. The female is duller than the male, with brown streaking. It is almost impossible to confuse the Laysan finch with any other bird in the field as it is the only passerine species found on the few islands it lives on.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Laysan Finch

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 9 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is February, the month with the most records.

About the Laysan Finch

The Laysan finch, sometimes referred to by its Hawaiian name, ʻekupuʻu, is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper, that is endemic to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It is one of four remaining finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreepers and is closely related to the smaller Nihoa finch. The Laysan finch is named for Laysan, the island to which it was endemic on its discovery. It was subsequently introduced to a few other atolls, and its historical range included some of the main islands.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Nihoa FinchTelespiza ultimaThe Nīhoa finch looks much like the Laysan finch but is smaller, and less dark.

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