Lesser koa finch birds, when the first and last specimens were shot. In all, there were eight specimens that were collected, all of them from in trees that were used by the greater koa finch. There were several other related species living at its time including one from Oahu, one from Maui and one living in Kona. It has been confused with a house finch and many novice bird watchers claim false sightings. It was also confused with the O’u, which was still common on Hawaii and Kauai until the latter's recent disappearance. Lesser koa finch The lesser koa finch ("Rhodacanthis flaviceps") is
ʻAnianiau Its call is a pair of notes, "tew-weet", while its song is a trill of "wee-see, wee-see, wee-see". Anianiau are found in mesic and wet forests at elevations above . The highest densities occur above . Dominant tree species in its habitat include koa ("Acacia koa"), ōhia lehua ("Metrosideros polymorpha"), ōlapa ("Cheirodendron trigynum"), and lapalapa ("C. platyphyllum"). The anianiau mainly feeds on nectar from the flowers of plants such as ōhia lehua ("Metrosideros polymorpha"), ōhelo ("Vaccinium" spp.), and alani ("Melicope" spp.). It will also take arthropods from trees, shrubs, or vines. The anianiau breeding season ranges from February to June.