Greater koa finch and maximum growth of a single species of koa finch. The greater koa finch was a granivore, preferring the pods and seeds of koa ("Acacia koa"). It was also observed eating caterpillars and aalii ("Dodonaea viscosa") seeds. The last confirmed sighting was in 1896, although there were sporadic later reports. Like its close relative the lesser koa finch, this bird lived in small stretches of mesic forest on the Big Island of Hawaii. These forests were dominated by its preferred food source, koa ("Acacia koa"), and were logged and replaced with pasture beginning in 1850. Grazing by cattle inhibited the
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.