Photo: Brenda Zaun of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Nene
Branta sandvicensis
Nene (Branta sandvicensis) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Nene (Branta sandvicensis) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Branta
- Species sandvicensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2 kg
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Nene feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Nene is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Nene (Branta sandvicensis) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers PO Hawaiian Is.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2 kg, with a wing length of about 36.4 cm and a tail of around 14.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1,904 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Nene?
The Nene is a very large bird that weighs around 2 kg.
Where does the Nene live?
The Nene is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering PO Hawaiian Is, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Nene belong to?
The Nene (Branta sandvicensis) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Nene eat?
The Nene feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Nene migrate?
The Nene is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Nene endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Nene make?
4 real field recordings of the Nene — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Nene's range?
The Nene has a mapped global range of about 1,904 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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