The Nene (Branta sandvicensis) is a Near Threatened goose endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, distinguished by its sepia or dark brown plumage, black face, cream cheeks, and longer legs with reduced webbing that allow it to walk swiftly on lava flows.
Learn to identify
Adult Nene on Kauai, Hawaii.
Learning lesson · openly licensed photographs, labelled by BirdBot; labels checked against the cited sources and approved by AI
Black face and crown: the black continues down the hindneck. Buff cheeks: pale tan sides of the head. Furrowed, striped neck: deep grooves form black-and-white stripes. Black legs and feet: long legs; toes less webbed than other geese. Black head, buff cheeks, striped neck.
Goslings are duller brown, with weaker neck stripes.
Sources: Wikipedia: Nene (bird) (revision 1380903780) · Animal Diversity Web: Branta sandvicensis (Nene)
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; labels added by BirdBot.
Adult Nenes are visually distinct from other geese, particularly their closest relative, the Canada Goose. There is no plumage difference between males and females. The bird's body is sepia or dark brown, with a black face and crown. A key field mark is the cream-colored cheeks, which contrast sharply with the black facial mask. The neck is buff-colored with black streaks, and the wings are brown to gray with white tips. The underside of the tail is black, and the eyes, beak, and feet are all black.
A critical adaptation for its habitat is its leg structure. Nenes possess longer and stronger legs than other geese, along with less webbing on their feet. These traits are specifically adapted for walking and running swiftly on volcanic lava flows, where webbed feet would be a hindrance. While their wings are approximately 16% smaller than those of the Canada Goose, making them less efficient fliers, they are still capable of flying between islands, usually taking off from land.
Nenes inhabit a variety of environments across the Hawaiian Islands, including upland lava flows, grassy areas, wetlands, scrub forests, and sparsely vegetated volcanic slopes. According to AviList v2026, the species is native to Hawaii and has been reintroduced to Kaua‘i and Maui. Their home ranges are extensive, roughly 200 square kilometers in size, reflecting the need for large areas to support their foraging and social needs.
Nenes are diurnal birds that sleep on the ground with their feet tucked beneath their bodies. The core social unit is the immediate family, consisting of a lifelong mating pair and their offspring. However, they also form flocks of up to 30 birds, which can be loosely structured. Dominance within these groups is determined by family size: large families are dominant to small ones, which are dominant to pairs, which are dominant to individuals.
Male Nenes actively defend the territory immediately surrounding their nests and families from other Nenes. This defense involves specific threat displays. The most common is the "bent-neck threat," where the bird faces a rival with its head and neck pointed downward while vibrating its neck feathers. The most intense display is the "forward threat," characterized by erect neck feathers, an open mouth, loud calling, and the head and neck raised toward the opponent. This is often followed by a charge, after which the subordinate bird usually runs off. Physical confrontation is rare but involves grabbing the opponent's neck with the beak and beating them with the wing.
Nenes are herbivores that forage solely on land. Their diet consists of leaves, grasses, flowers, berries, and seeds. They preferentially eat the more nutrient-rich bottom parts of grasses, using their beaks to grab and pull the vegetation. Important grass species in their diet include Digitaria violascens, Andropogon virginicus, Sporobolus africanus, and Carex wahuensis. While they can swim in ponds and lakes, they do not forage in water, distinguishing them from many other waterfowl.
Nene vocalizations serve multiple purposes, including communicating with family members, solidifying territory, sending alarm calls, and threatening predators. A unique behavior is the "murmuring" that occurs while foraging; this sound helps family members maintain a specific foraging distance from one another. Chicks have a repertoire of calls including pleasure, distress, sleepy, and greeting calls. Overall, calls tend to be louder during and close to the breeding season.
Nenes form lifelong pair bonds. The breeding season is extended, ranging from August through April, with the majority of nesting occurring between October and March. Eggs are usually laid during the winter months of October and January. The female selects the nesting site, typically near her own natal site, and digs a shallow scrape in dense vegetation, usually under a bush or tree. The nest is lined with plants and soft down.
Clutches consist of 1 to 5 eggs, with an average of 3. The female incubates the eggs while the male guards her, though not constantly. The female spends roughly four hours each day away from the nest to eat and rest. Chicks are precocial, meaning they are able to forage within the first day of hatching and do not need to be fed by their parents. However, they remain close to their parents until roughly one year old and reach sexual maturity within 2 to 3 years.
The Nene is listed as Near Threatened (NT) in the AviList v2026 checklist. Historically, the species was hunted to near extinction by early Hawaiian settlers. Conservation efforts, including captive breeding and habitat protection, have supported population recovery. According to the Animal Diversity Web account, the greatest threat to Nenes is the predation of eggs by introduced Indian mongooses (Herpestes javanicus); however, this assessment may not reflect the most recent IUCN or local agency evaluations.
When observing Nenes, it is important to respect their space, particularly during the breeding season. Observe flocks from a distance on open lava flows or grasslands, noting their swift walking and distinct black-and-cream facial patterns. Watch for specific threat displays that indicate you are too close: the "bent-neck threat" (head and neck pointed downward with vibrating neck feathers) or the more intense "forward threat" (erect neck feathers, open mouth, and loud calling). If you see either display, back away slowly. Avoid approaching nests or young chicks, as this can cause stress and potentially lead to nest abandonment. Use binoculars or a telephoto lens to get a closer look without disturbing the birds.
