ʻApapane gray with small black eyes with a brown outline. The back of its wings and its tail are colored black, while back bottom is a grayish-white. Apapane are found in mesic and wet forests dominated by "ōhia lehua" ("Metrosideros polymorpha") and "koa" ("Acacia koa") trees. The best habitat also contains "kōlea lau nui" (" Myrsine lessertiana"), "naio" ("Myoporum sandwicense"), and "hapuu" ("Cibotium" spp.) tree ferns, while "māmane" ("Sophora chrysophylla") is a common species in high elevation foraging habitat. Most apapane are found at an elevation above , keeping the birds away from mosquitoes. It lives on the islands of Hawaii,
Lesser koa finch was smaller than the other scientifically described koa finches, measuring on average only five inches in length. Its life cycle and feeding habits apparently centered around the koa plant from which it got nectar and fruit (and for which it was named). The koa also provided refuge for small flocks of the finch as it avoided people and the noon high sun. It was seen congregating with its larger relative, the greater koa-finch. Several specimens were collected and sent to London, Cambridge, New York, Philadelphia, and Berlin. The bird appeared to have always had a small population. When people brought