Laysan Finch
Telespiza cantans
The Laysan Finch (Telespiza cantans) is a legendary finches, euphonias, and alli found only in the United States, weighing about 33 g. 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.
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.
How to identify it
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.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Laysan Finch?
- The Laysan finch is a large honeycreeper with a heavy bill. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Laysan Finch?
- The Laysan Finch is a small sized bird weighing about 33 g.
- Where can you see a Laysan Finch?
- The Laysan Finch is endemic to the United States, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Laysan Finch?
- The Laysan Finch is most easily confused with the Nihoa Finch.
- Is the Laysan Finch endangered?
- The Laysan Finch is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Laysan Finch for real
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