| Ne-Ne | ||||||||||||||
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Ne-ne (Hawaiian Goose) | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Branta sandvicensis |
The Néné, or Hawaiian Goose, Branta sandvicensis is a species of goose endemic to some of the Hawaiian islands. It gets its name from its soft call.
This is an unmistakable species, with its generally brown plumage and darker head. Its strong toes have much reduced webbing, an adaptation to the lava flows on which it breeds. this quite terrestrial goose even mates on land, unlike most other wildfowl.
When moulting, the Néné becomes flightless, like other geese, a factor which led to its once critically endangered position.
This is the world's rarest goose. Once common, hunting and introduced predators such as mongooses, pigs and cats at one stage reduced the population to 30 birds. However, this species breeds well in captivity, and has been successfully re-introduced. There are also good numbers in wildfowl collections.
The Néné is the state bird of Hawaii.