- Laysan Finch
Taxobox
name = Laysan Finch
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = stable
image_width = 270px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia =Drepanididae
genus = "Telespiza "
species = "T. cantans"
binomial = "Telespiza cantans"
binomial_authority = (Wilson, SB,1890 )The Laysan Finch, "Telespiza cantans", is a
bird found in theNorthwestern Hawaiian Islands . The finch is actually a member of theHawaiian honeycreeper s, a family endemic toHawaii , which is descended fromfinch family. It is one of 4 remaining finch-billed Honeycreepers, and is closely related to the smallerNihoa Finch . The Laysan Finch is named forLaysan , the island to which it was endemic on its discovery (it was subsequently introduced to a few otheratoll s).Description
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 onlypasserine species found on the few islands it lives on.Range and behavior
Range
On its discovery the Laysan Finch was an endemic resident to the small island of Laysan, along with the
Laysan Rail , theLaysan Honeycreeper , and theLaysan Duck and theLaysan Millerbird . Populations were introduced to several islands, includingPearl and Hermes Atoll , where the species persists, andMidway Atoll , where it survived until the introduction ofrat s. Thefossil record shows that the finch once had a greater range in Hawaii, reaching as far asOahu , and that the Laysan population is a relic.Behavior
The Laysan Finch nests in vegetation, laying three eggs in a cup-shaped nest. These are incubated for 16 days by the female, the male in turn feeding the female. The chicks
fledge after three weeks, and are cared for by the parents for another three weeks.The Laysan Finch is a generalist, feeding on seeds, small insects, fruits,
carrion (ofseabird s andHawaiian Monk Seal s), and the eggs of nesting seabirds. While unable to break into the eggs of the larger seabirds (such asalbatross and boobies) they will scavenge from them. They actively take the eggs of smaller seabirds such asWhite Tern s, and the endemicLaysan Duck .Conservation
The Laysan Finch is listed as Vulnerable by the
IUCN because of its highly restricted range and vulnerability to extremes of weather (it is considered endangered by the State of Hawaii and U.S. government). It survived the devastating effects of the introduction ofrabbit s (unlike the Millerbird, honeycreeper and rail) by taking carrion and seabird eggs. Laysan is now part of theHawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge .References
* Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is vulnerable and the criteria used
* Morin, M. P., and S. Conant. 2002. Laysan Finch ("Telespiza cantans") and Nihoa Finch ("Telespiza ultima"). "In" The Birds of North America, No. 639 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.External links
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=8898&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
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