Hawaiian Birds and Nene

The Nene, or Hawaiian Goose, is among the most isolated, sedentary, and threatened waterfowl, having the smallest range of any living goose. The Nene is also highly terrestrial, adapting to life in the Hawaiian Islands with limited freshwater habitat. It stands taller and more upright than other geese, enabling it to reach higher to browse the fruits, seeds, and foliage that constitute its herbivorous diet. Its legs and padded toes are long and strong, promoting swift, sure walking and running over rugged terrain, and webbing is reduced between the toes.

Nene (Branta sandvicensis) are endemic to Hawaii, with fossils found on Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, and Molokai. Today Nene are most commonly found on the slopes of the volcanoes on the Islands of Hawaii, at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Mauno Loa, and Puu Wa’awa’a, and at Maui’s Haleakala National Park. A large and growing population can also be found in the lowland grass pastures on the island of Kauai, recently the Nene has been reintroduced to the island of Molokai.

Nene are medium sized geese, measuring between 21 to 26 inches in length, and weighing an average of 4.5 pounds. Sexes are alike (monomorphic), except females are lighter and smaller than males. Their face and crown are black, with cream-colored cheeks, pale gray streaked with black neck, and the remaining plumage primarily sepia. They have white eyelids and thin eye-ring.

Nene currently inhabit elevations ranging from sea level to 8,000 feet, and have a lifespan of over thirty years. They are grazers, foraging the dry land for shrubbery and grass. They browse the sparse vegetation found among the lava flows, eating a wide variety of leaves, fruits, buds, and seeds of the native plants. One of their favorite foods is an introduced species called goose grass. In addition, they enjoy munching on exotic flowers, such as violets, and native plants such as ‘ulei, ‘ohelo berries, and naupaka berries. Photo by Brian Small.