Hawaiian Goose

About

Hawaii's state bird and the world's rarest goose, recovered from near extinction. A medium-sized brownish goose with a black face, pale buff neck with diagonal stripes, and reduced webbing between the toes adapted for walking on lava. Grazes on volcanic slopes and coastal areas.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Wingspan	72.8 cm	28.7 in
Weight	2150.0 g	75.84 oz

Identification

Plumage

Buff-tan neck with black and white channeled furrows. Crown and face black; hindneck black. Body gray-brown above; underparts pale with buff breast. Reduced webbing on feet. Sexes similar. State bird Hawaii.

Habitat & Range

Volcanic slopes, lava flows, coastal grasslands, and shrublands on Maui, Hawai'i, and Kauai. Adapted to rocky terrain with reduced toe webbing. Introduced to other Hawaiian islands. Avoids dense forest.

🌾 Grassland

Geographic Range

Breeds in sub-Arctic Canada; winters on large lakes and rivers from the Gulf of Mexico north to where water remains open.

Diet & Feeding

Eats aquatic plants, algae, and grasses; upends in shallow water to graze submerged vegetation; diet shifts with season.

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

IUCN Red List

Behavior & Breeding

Nesting

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 29-32 days. Fledging: 70-84 days.

Clutch Size

1-6

Sound

Song

A soft, low 'moo-moo' — the murmuring call gives the Nene its Hawaiian name. Also gives honking calls in flight. Less vocal than Canada Goose; distinctive murmuring quality.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes (Waterfowl)
Family	Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans)
Genus	Branta
Species	Branta sandvicensis

Distribution

Hawaiian Goose has been recorded in 6 countries.

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Present Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

External Databases

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hawaiian Goose eat?

Eats aquatic plants, algae, and grasses; upends in shallow water to graze submerged vegetation; diet shifts with season.

Where does the Hawaiian Goose live?

Volcanic slopes, lava flows, coastal grasslands, and shrublands on Maui, Hawai'i, and Kauai. Adapted to rocky terrain with reduced toe webbing. Introduced to other Hawaiian islands. Avoids dense forest.

Is the Hawaiian Goose endangered?

The Hawaiian Goose has a conservation status of Near Threatened.

How does the Hawaiian Goose nest?

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 29-32 days. Fledging: 70-84 days.

What does the Hawaiian Goose sound like?

A soft, low 'moo-moo' — the murmuring call gives the Nene its Hawaiian name. Also gives honking calls in flight. Less vocal than Canada Goose; distinctive murmuring quality.

How big is the Hawaiian Goose?

The Hawaiian Goose has a wingspan of 72.8 cm, weight of 2150.0 g.

What order and family does the Hawaiian Goose belong to?

The Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandvicensis) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.