Kauaʻi finch
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Telespiza persecutrix

The Kauai finch (Telespiza persecutrix ) is an extinct bird in the genus Telespiza of the family Fringillidae. It was endemic to the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Oahu. It is only known from fossil remains and likely became extinct before the first Europeans visited Hawaii in 1778.

Appearance

The Kauai finch was about 5½ inch in length and had a very blunt bill that possibly could crack nuts and flowers (e.g., ‘ōhi‘a lehua blossoms) to digest the cellulose easily. It has also been speculated that insects perhaps formed part of its diet. The Kauai finch was believed to have once survived in highland forest, but its fossils have been found frequently at the lower elevations of the island.

Geography

References

1. Kauaʻi finch Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kauaʻi_finch

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