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{{Short description|Extinct species of bird}}
{{multiple issues|
{{more footnotes|date=February 2012}}
{{Refimprove|article|March 2010|date=March 2010}}
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{{speciesbox
{{Taxobox
| name = Lesser koa finch
| name = Lesser koa finch
| image = Telespiza flaviceps3.jpg
| image = Telespiza flaviceps3.jpg
| image_width =
| status = EX
| status = EX
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{IUCN|id=22720745 |title=''Rhodacanthis flaviceps'' |assessors=[[BirdLife International]] |version=2013.2 |year=2012 |accessdate=26 November 2013}}</ref>
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Rhodacanthis flaviceps'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T22720745A94681389 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22720745A94681389.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| extinct = 1891
| genus = Rhodacanthis
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| species = flaviceps
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| authority = [[Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild|Rothschild]], 1892
| ordo = [[Passerine|Passeriformes]]
| synonyms =
| subordo= [[Songbird|Passeri]]
}}
| parvordo = [[Passerida]]
| familia = [[Finch|Fringillidae]]
| subfamilia = [[Hawaiian honeycreeper|Carduelinae]]
| tribus = [[Psittirostrini]]
| genus = † ''[[Rhodacanthis]]''
| species = † '''''R. flaviceps'''''
| binomial = ''Rhodacanthis flaviceps''
| binomial_authority = [[Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild|Rothschild]], 1892
| synonyms = }}


The '''lesser koa finch''' (''Rhodacanthis flaviceps'') is an [[extinct]] species of [[Hawaiian honeycreeper]].
The '''lesser koa finch''' ('''''Rhodacanthis flaviceps''''') is an extinct species of [[Hawaiian honeycreeper]] in the subfamily [[Carduelinae]] of the family [[Finch|Fringillidae]]. It was [[Endemism|endemic]] to the [[Hawaii (island)|island of Hawaiʻi]].<ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021" />


==Description==
==Description==
The only specimens of the lesser koa finch ever caught were a family group with members of different ages and genders, ideal for study.<ref>George C. Munro. (1944)</ref> The males were apparently golden-yellow with olive green on the breast and belly. The females were almost indistinguishable from the species' larger relative, the [[greater koa finch]], other than the fact that the former were slightly darker in color. The juveniles were somewhat mottled on the belly, similar to the females. As its name suggests, the species as a whole was smaller than the other scientifically described koa finches, measuring on average only five inches in length.
The only specimens of the lesser koa finch ever caught were a family group with members of different ages and sex, ideal for study.<ref>George C. Munro. (1944)</ref> The males were apparently golden-yellow with olive green on the breast and belly. The females were almost indistinguishable from the species' larger relative, the [[greater koa finch]] (''Rhodacanthis palmeri''), other than the fact that the former were slightly darker in color. The juveniles were somewhat mottled on the belly, similar to the females.


== Distribution and habitat ==
==Behaviour==
The lesser koa finch was [[Endemism|endemic]] to the [[Hawaii (island)|island of Hawaiʻi]]. This species was recorded in upland koa (''[[Acacia koa]]'') forests,<ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021" /> but likely inhabited lowland habitat until before or shortly after the time of western contact in 1778.<ref name="James_Prince" />
Its life cycle and feeding habits apparently centered around the [[koa]] plant from which it got nectar and fruit (and for which it was named). The koa also provided refuge for small flocks of the finch as it avoided people and the noon high sun. It was seen congregating with its larger relative, the greater koa-finch.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} Several specimens were collected and sent to London, Cambridge, New York, Philadelphia, and Berlin.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}}


The [[IUCN Red List]] says, "This or a similar species is also known from the fossil record of [[Oahu|O'ahu]] and [[Maui]]," citing a 1991 paper.<ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021" /> This apparently refers to the [[primitive koa finch]] (''Rhodacanthis litotes''), a similarly sized species known from fossils on [[Oahu|Oʻahu]] and [[Maui]], described as a new species in 2005.<ref name="Helen">{{cite journal |last=James |first=Helen F. |author2=Storrs L. Olson |year=2005 |title=The diversity and biogeography of koa-finches (Drepanidini: ''Rhodacanthis'') with descriptions of two new species |url=http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/217/1/James-05-ZJLS-new+koa+finches.pdf |journal=[[Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society]] |publisher=[[Linnean Society of London]] |volume=144 |issue=4 |pages=527–541 |doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.2005.00173.x |doi-access=free }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Extinction==
The bird appeared to have always had a small population.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} When people brought cattle and created ranches in the koa forests, the younger koa trees began to be trampled by the cows. The cows also stripped the leaves off the trees at a faster rate than the leaves normally fell. The older trees were too tall to be defoliated, but their roots were kicked and pulled out, causing them to grow weak and eventually die. With the loss of the native koa trees the last birds began to die off. Finally, the bird was never seen after the year 1891.


==Behavior==
It is also noted that there was only two confirmed sighting of the birds, when the first and last specimens were shot.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} In all, there were eight specimens that were collected, all of them from in trees that were used by the greater koa finch. There were several other related species living at its time including one from Oahu, one from Maui and one living in Kona. It has been confused with a house finch and many novice bird watchers{{Who|date=June 2011}} claim false sightings. It was also confused with the O’u, which was still common on Hawaii and Kauai until the latter's recent disappearance.{{When|date=June 2011}}
Its life cycle and feeding habits apparently centered around the [[Acacia koa|koa]] plant from which it got nectar and fruit (and for which it was named). The koa also provided refuge for small flocks of the finch as it avoided people and the noon high sun. It was seen congregating with its larger relative, the [[greater koa finch]] (''Rhodacanthis palmeri'').{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} Several specimens were collected and sent to London, Cambridge, New York, Philadelphia, and Berlin.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}}

==Extinction==
The extinction of this species and other [[Rhodacanthis|koa finches]] seems to have been caused by [[habitat destruction]], and not by climatic variation nor mosquito-vectored diseases. Koa finches were likely driven out of lowland habitat and into upland refugia before or shortly after the time of western contact in 1778. On the [[Hawaii (island)|island of Hawaiʻi]], koa finches persisted until the late 19th century, when their upland refugium was degraded by logging, ranching, and intensified predation by the [[black rat]].<ref name="James_Prince">{{cite journal |last=James |first=Helen F. |author2=Johnathan P. Prince |date=May 2008 |title=Integration of palaeontological, historical, and geographical data on the extinction of koa-finches |journal=Diversity & Distributions |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=441–451 |doi=10.1111/j.1472-4642.2007.00442.x |bibcode=2008DivDi..14..441J |s2cid=40057425}}</ref> The lesser koa finch was last recorded in 1891.<ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021" />


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
* Bryson, Bill. A Short History of Nearly Everything. 1st ed. 1 vol. New York, NY: Broadway Books, 2004. 476. Print.
* Bryson, Bill. A Short History of Nearly Everything. 1st ed. 1 vol. New York, NY: Broadway Books, 2004. 476. Print.
* Munro, George C. Birds of Hawaii. ISBN 0-8048-0063-4
* Munro, George C. Birds of Hawaii. {{ISBN|0-8048-0063-4}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1065066}}


[[Category:Bird extinctions since 1500]]
[[Category:Bird extinctions since 1500]]
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[[Category:Hawaiian honeycreepers]]
[[Category:Hawaiian honeycreepers]]
[[Category:Extinct birds of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Extinct birds of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Endemic fauna of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Endemic birds of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Animals described in 1892]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1892]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]

Latest revision as of 04:42, 18 December 2024

Lesser koa finch

Extinct (1891)  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Subfamily: Carduelinae
Genus: Rhodacanthis
Species:
R. flaviceps
Binomial name
Rhodacanthis flaviceps

The lesser koa finch (Rhodacanthis flaviceps) is an extinct species of Hawaiian honeycreeper in the subfamily Carduelinae of the family Fringillidae. It was endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi.[1]

Description

[edit]

The only specimens of the lesser koa finch ever caught were a family group with members of different ages and sex, ideal for study.[2] The males were apparently golden-yellow with olive green on the breast and belly. The females were almost indistinguishable from the species' larger relative, the greater koa finch (Rhodacanthis palmeri), other than the fact that the former were slightly darker in color. The juveniles were somewhat mottled on the belly, similar to the females.

Distribution and habitat

[edit]

The lesser koa finch was endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi. This species was recorded in upland koa (Acacia koa) forests,[1] but likely inhabited lowland habitat until before or shortly after the time of western contact in 1778.[3]

The IUCN Red List says, "This or a similar species is also known from the fossil record of O'ahu and Maui," citing a 1991 paper.[1] This apparently refers to the primitive koa finch (Rhodacanthis litotes), a similarly sized species known from fossils on Oʻahu and Maui, described as a new species in 2005.[4]

Behavior

[edit]

Its life cycle and feeding habits apparently centered around the koa plant from which it got nectar and fruit (and for which it was named). The koa also provided refuge for small flocks of the finch as it avoided people and the noon high sun. It was seen congregating with its larger relative, the greater koa finch (Rhodacanthis palmeri).[citation needed] Several specimens were collected and sent to London, Cambridge, New York, Philadelphia, and Berlin.[citation needed]

Extinction

[edit]

The extinction of this species and other koa finches seems to have been caused by habitat destruction, and not by climatic variation nor mosquito-vectored diseases. Koa finches were likely driven out of lowland habitat and into upland refugia before or shortly after the time of western contact in 1778. On the island of Hawaiʻi, koa finches persisted until the late 19th century, when their upland refugium was degraded by logging, ranching, and intensified predation by the black rat.[3] The lesser koa finch was last recorded in 1891.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e BirdLife International (2016). "Rhodacanthis flaviceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22720745A94681389. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22720745A94681389.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ George C. Munro. (1944)
  3. ^ a b James, Helen F.; Johnathan P. Prince (May 2008). "Integration of palaeontological, historical, and geographical data on the extinction of koa-finches". Diversity & Distributions. 14 (3): 441–451. Bibcode:2008DivDi..14..441J. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4642.2007.00442.x. S2CID 40057425.
  4. ^ James, Helen F.; Storrs L. Olson (2005). "The diversity and biogeography of koa-finches (Drepanidini: Rhodacanthis) with descriptions of two new species" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 144 (4). Linnean Society of London: 527–541. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2005.00173.x.[permanent dead link]
  • Bryson, Bill. A Short History of Nearly Everything. 1st ed. 1 vol. New York, NY: Broadway Books, 2004. 476. Print.
  • Munro, George C. Birds of Hawaii. ISBN 0-8048-0063-4