Hawaiian Goose (Branta Sandvicensis)

The Hawaiian goose, also known as “Nene”, is a type of goose prevalent to the Hawaiian islands. Nene is the official bird of Hawaii State and is widely found on the islands of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai.

Table of Contents

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Branta
Scientific Name:	Branta Sandvicensis

Table Of Content

Table of Contents

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Branta
Scientific Name:	Branta Sandvicensis

Table of Contents

It is named Nene due to the sound of its soft call.

The population of this previously threatened species of goose is increasing. This growth is because of the regular release of captive bred individuals back into the wild.

Hawaiian Goose

Physical Description

Length: Hawaiian geese stretches to a length of 41 cm.

Weight: Female geese weighs 3.36-5.56lbs and male goose weighs 4-6lb.

Color: Both male and female goose have the same coloration. Their legs, bill, feet are black in color.

Toes: Their toes are webbed and padded.

Neck: Their neck is pale grayish in color and is speckled, with a dark ring at the bottom.

Feathers: Their feathers are very soft.

Habitat

They prefer plains, grasslands, golf courses, and even scrubland. They do not need water and can live without it for a long time. Nenes are often seen in the rocky fields of lava on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Distribution

These geese are mostly seen in islands of Hawaii, Lana, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai. The majority of Hawaiian geese are seen on the Big Island, but are also seen in the dry upland areas of the other islands.

Behavior

Hawaiian geese are non-migratory.
They are excellent flyers.
They love playing in water.
They build their nests on the ground and then cover it with feathers.

Hawaiian Goose Photo

Diet

Hawaiian geese are herbivorous, and feed on leaves, seeds, fruits, flowers of shrubs and grasses. Most of their consumption of water is met via the consumption of grasses and berries.

Adaptations

Hawaiian Geese are well adapted to the environment they inhabit; it is because of the following features:

Their strong padded toes allow them traverse in the rough terrain of lava plains.
They can survive on feeding leaves, fruits and flowers of plain land areas.
They can live without drinking water for an extended time.

Predators

Hawaiian geese are often attacked by the predators such as Hawaii’s invasive mongooses and feral cats. They are also frequently attacked by stray dogs.

Hawaiian Goose Flight

Flight

Most off the time they are seen on the ground, in search of food. They can move their wings much faster compared to other species of goose, and are fast flyers.

Nene goslings remain flightless for about 11 to 14 weeks.

Call

The Hawaiian goose has a very soft and conversational type of call. They have received their name because of the sound of their. Their loudest recognized call sounds like a honk or “ha-wah”. Their call is quite similar to that of their Canadian cousins (Canada Goose).

Migration

Hawaiian geese are considered sedentary because they do not migrate. But, seasonal movements are made sometime in response to changes in the availability of food.

Breeding Season

Their breeding season starts in August and continues till April. Their breeding period is longer compared to that of other goose species.

Hawaiian Goose Nene

Breeding

Unlike other types of geese, Hawaiian geese mate and nest on the ground. Female geese build their nests on their preferable site in which 4-5 eggs are laid.

The female goose incubates the eggs for 29-32 days and the male goose acts as a sentry.

The Hawaiian goose breeds on almost all parts of the Hawaiian islands. Their nest sites include densely vegetated beach strands, grasslands and even shrub lands.

Life Cycle

Goslings are precocial which means that they become capable of leaving the nests within a few days. Goslings are able to feed on their own after a few days and stay with their parents till the next breeding season starts.

Goslings are very quick learners. Within days of their birth, goslings are seen feeding independently and playing in the waters with their mothers and siblings.