Nihoa Finch
CR

Nihoa Finch

Telespiza ultima

Stable

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C4%ABhoa_finch

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Nihoa Finch faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range on tiny Nihoa Island, making it vulnerable to catastrophic events like severe storms or droughts that could eliminate the entire population. Habitat degradation from invasive plant species and potential introduction of diseases or predators pose ongoing risks. Climate change threatens to alter the island's limited vegetation communities that the species depends upon for food and nesting sites.

Threat summary

Habitat

Endemic to Nihoa Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, inhabiting native shrublands dominated by Chenopodium oahuense and Amaranthus brownii. The species occupies rocky slopes and plateau areas with scattered native vegetation at elevations up to 270 meters.

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Nihoa Finch classified as Critically Endangered?
Nihoa Finch is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Nihoa Finch faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range on tiny Nihoa Island, making it vulnerable to catastrophic events like severe storms or droughts that could eliminate the entire population. Habitat degradation from invasive plant species and potential introduction of diseases or predators pose ongoing risks. Climate change threatens to alter the island's limited vegetation communities that the species depends upon for food and nesting sites.
Where does Nihoa Finch live?
Nihoa Finch occurs in United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Nihoa Finch?
The main threats to Nihoa Finch are 12.1, 7.1, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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