Hawaiian Goose
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Branta sandvicensis
Population size
2,600-3,300
Life Span
20-24 years
Weight
1.5-3
3.3-6.6
kglbs
kg lbs 
Height
41
16
cminch
cm inch 
Length
53-69
20.9-27.2
cminch
cm inch 

The Hawaiian goose or the nene (Branta sandvicensis ) is the world's rarest goose. It is thought that the nene evolved from the Canada goose, which most likely arrived on the Hawaiian islands about 500,000 years ago, shortly after the island of Hawaiʻi was formed.

Di

Diurnal

He

Herbivore

Te

Terrestrial

Wa

Waterfowl

Gr

Grazing

Pr

Precocial

Zo

Zoochory

Is

Island endemic

Na

Natatorial

Ov

Oviparous

Br

Browsing

Te

Territorial

Mo

Monogamy

So

Social

Fl

Flocking

Do

Dominance hierarchy

Al

Altitudinal Migrant

H

starts with

Appearance

Adult male Hawaiian geese have a black head and hindneck, buff cheeks, and heavily furrowed neck. The neck has black and white diagonal stripes. Aside from being smaller, the female is similar to the male in coloration. The adult's bill, legs, and feet are black. It has soft feathers under its chin. Goslings resemble adults but are a duller brown and with less demarcation between the colors of the head and neck, and striping and barring effects are much reduced.

Video

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Countries
Regions
Biogeographical realms

Native to the Hawaiian Islands, the Hawaiian goose today is found most commonly in Hawaii, in and around the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and on Maui in Haleakala National Park. A large and increasing population also lives on Kauai Island, and the animal has recently been reintroduced on Molokai Island. They don't migrate and inhabit various habitats, including scrub forests, grasslands, volcanic slopes with sparse vegetation, coastal dunes, and lava plains, and related anthropogenic habitats such as pasture and golf courses. Some populations migrated between lowland breeding grounds and montane foraging areas.

Climate zones

Habits and Lifestyle

Hawaiian geese are diurnal birds. They sleep on the ground with their feet tucked under their bodies. They live in family groups that consist of a mating pair and their young. Hawaiian geese may live in flocks of as many as 30 birds, some groups being more loosely formed than others. Dominance ranking depends on the family unit’s size. Males defend against other geese the territory that immediately surrounds their nests and families. Hawaiian geese spend most of their time on the ground but they are capable of flight, with some individuals flying daily between nesting and feeding areas. They do swim, mostly in ponds and lakes. They spread the oil, using their beak, from their oil gland onto their feathers to waterproof them.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Hawaiian geese are herbivores and will either graze or browse, depending on the availability of vegetation. They eat leaves, grasses, berries, flowers, and seeds.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
August-April with the peak in October-March
INCUBATION PERIOD
1 month
INDEPENDENT AGE
1 year
FEMALE NAME
goose
MALE NAME
gander
BABY NAME
gosling
web.animal_clutch_size
2-5 eggs

Hawaiian geese are monogamous, forming life-long pair bonds. From August through April is the breeding season, peaking from October to March. These birds nest in solitary pairs and the nest is built by the female, being a shallow scrape in the ground, lined with vegetation and down, usually sheltered by tussock grass or rock. The same site is often reused year after year by the same pair. 2-5 creamy white eggs are laid, and the female incubates them for about one month. The goslings are precocial and can feed themselves, but usually remain with their parents for one year. They fledge at around 10-12 weeks old, and around 2-3 years old they become reproductively mature.

Population

Population threats

The main threat to Hawaiian geese is the lack of suitable habitat, as well as introduced species such as mongooses, and feral cats and dogs, which prey on young birds and eggs. Disease transmission and inbreeding depression may also be threats to captive-reared birds.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Hawaiian goose is 2,600 - 3,300 individuals, roughly equivalent to 1,700-2,200 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are increasing.

Ecological niche

Hawaiian geese are important for spreading seeds for a great number of the plants that they eat. They are also important as a source of food for many of the animals that are their natural predators.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • The Hawaiian goose has been Hawaii’s official state bird since 1957.
  • The typical call of the Hawaiian Goose is a low, plaintive sound, similar to the local name of this species “ne ne”.
  • Hawaiian geese evolved from Canada geese, which probably came to the Hawaiian Islands around 500, 000 years ago, soon after Hawaii was formed.
  • "Goose" is, in fact, the word for a female goose, males being called ganders. Geese on water or land in a group are called a "gaggle", in the air, a "skein".
  • A goose's beak is serrated on the inside, and so is its tongue. This can make it look like they have fangs, but the serrations are for cutting succulent grass stems.
  • In Victorian England, a goose accompanied a chimney sweep, and was sent down the chimney for the purpose of collecting the build-up of coal, emerging at the bottom black with soot.
  • Goose feathers were used to stuff some of the early golf balls. These were handmade and very expensive.

Coloring Pages

References

1. Hawaiian Goose Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nene_(bird)
2. Hawaiian Goose on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22679929/0
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/503262

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