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
Primitive koa finch Primitive koa finch fossils have been found on Maui and Oahu. It is believed that it inhabited lowland dry forests and savannas, where dominant plant species included "ka palupalu o kanaloa" ("Kanaloa kahoolawensis"), "aalii" ("Dodonaea viscosa"), "loulu" ("Pritchardia" spp.), and "koaia" ("Acacia koaia"). Unlike other species of "Rhodacanthis", "koa" ("Acacia koa") was not present in significant numbers in its habitat. The primitive koa finch was a granivore, with a bill adapted to eat the hard seeds and pods of legumes, especially "ka palupalu o kanaloa" ("Kanaloa kahoolawensis") and "koaia" ("Acacia koaia"). It may have also taken caterpillars and "aalii" ("Dodonaea