| Laysan finch | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily: | Carduelinae |
| Genus: | Telespiza |
| Species: | T. cantans |
| Binomial name | |
| Telespiza cantans Wilson, SB, 1890 | |
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| Map ofHawaii showingLaysan in the lower left inset box | |
TheLaysan finch (Telespiza cantans) is a species ofHawaiian honeycreeper, that isendemic to theNorthwestern Hawaiian Islands. It is one of four remaining finch-billed Hawaiian 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 otheratolls, and its historical range included some of themain islands.
The Laysan finch is a large honeycreeper with a heavy bill. Overall the male has yellowplumage 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.
On its discovery, the Laysan finch was anendemic resident of the small island ofLaysan, along with theLaysan rail (Porzana palmeri), theLaysan honeycreeper (Himatione fraithii), theLaysan duck (Anas laysanensis), and theLaysan millerbird (Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris). Populations were introduced to several islands, includingPearl and Hermes Atoll, where the species persists, andMidway Atoll, where it survived until the introduction ofrats. Thefossil record shows that the finch once had a greater range in Hawaiʻi, reaching as far asOʻahu, and that birds on Laysan represent arelict population.
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 chicksfledge after three weeks and are cared for by the parents for another three weeks.
The Laysan finch is ageneralist, feeding onseeds, smallinsects,fruit,carrion (ofseabirds andHawaiian monk seals), and theeggs of nesting seabirds. While unable to break into the eggs of the larger seabirds (such asalbatross andboobies) they will scavenge from them. They actively take the eggs of smaller seabirds such as those ofwhite tern (Gygis alba) and the endemicLaysan duck (Anas laysanensis).
The Laysan finch is listed as Vulnerable by theIUCN because of its highly restricted range and vulnerability to extremes of weather,[1] and it is considered endangered by the State of Hawaiʻi and U.S. government. It survived the devastating effects of theintroduction ofdomestic rabbits on Laysan Island (unlike theLaysan millerbird,honeycreeper andrail) by takingcarrion andseabirdeggs. However, this caused their population to shrink to fewer than 100 individuals and thebottleneck caused a reduction ingenetic diversity that may have put the species at increased risk ofextinction.[2] The birds also suffered a loss ofheterozygosity followingfounding events on other islands which may have caused an accumulation of deleteriousrecessivealleles in the populations.[2]
Laysan is now part of theHawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The population is considered stable with the biggest threat being uncontrollable climate change.[1]
