The nene is a relative of the Canada goose that evolved in the Hawaiian Islands into a nonmigratory, nonaquatic species with shortened wings and half-webbed ; The Nene is the world's rarest goose. Nene have also been called “semi terrestrial,” in … Nene Facts. The grasslands and slopes of Hawaii is where you will find Nene Goose . Though it is a strong and frequent flyer, its short wings, long legs and reduced webbing between its toes indicate that it often walks and seldom swims. The nene, or Hawaiian goose (Branta sandwicensis) was designated the official state bird of Hawaii in 1957. It gets its name from its soft call. Perhaps 25,000 nēnē existed in Hawai`i when Captain Cook arrived in … The Nene is the only surviving goose of the nine that were originally native to the islands. Nene seldom swim and are not bothered by predators or cold temperatures, so they do not fly as much and their wings are weak compared to other geese. The Nene is the state bird of Hawaii. With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than Unlike most other geese, Nene are non-migratory, in that generally only island wide movement is known to occur. The Hawaiian Goose / Nene's plumage shows a scaly pattern of grey, brown and white. Today, the nene is the world’s rarest goose. Nene Goose: Hawaii’s Beloved Bird. The bill, legs and feet are black. The small, grey-brown Hawaiian Goose measures between 21 - 27 inches (53 - 69 cm) in length. The other eight and a total of 32 bird species have gone extinct since the late 1700s. Nene, (Branta sandvicensis), endangered species of goose of the family Anatidae (order Anseriformes) and the official state bird of Hawaii. By Coco Zickos | Photo: Hawaii.com member Shawn K. During your trip to the Hawaiian Islands, you might notice the sound of Nene, Hawaiian geese, honking as they soar through the sky in their classic V-formation. Our remaining goose is also a herbivore. Its total population was estimated at around 25,000 birds before Captain James Cook “discovered” Hawaii in the 1770s. The Nene or Hawaiian Goose is a member of the family that includes the whistling ducks, swans, and true geese. All State Birds. Wild Nene populations can be seen in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Loa, and Pu’u Wa’awa’a on the island of Hawai’i; in Haleakala National Park on Maui, and at the Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge, along the Na Pali Coast, and outside Lihue on Kaua’i.Captive Nene can be seen at the Honolulu Zoo. The males weigh between 3.7–6.7 lbs (1.7 –3.1 kg) and the smaller females weigh between 3.4 – 5.6 lb (1.5 – 2.6 kg). The Nēnē, or Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandvicensis) is a species of goose.It is found today on only three Hawaiian islands. 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