Extinct

This was the largest of the Hawaiian finches, and was about 9 inches long. It was found only on Hawaii Island, in the koa forests of the Kona District at elevations above 4000 feet. The males had a bright orange head, and a greenish-brown body, while the females were a dull green all over. Their distinctive feature was a gray, heavy-pointed beak used to feed on the hard seed pods of the koa tree.

The Greater Koa-Finch was last seen in 1894 and is considered extinct. The causes for its disappearance are still unknown, as its high-elevation habitat is still relatively intact, and it is above the range of mosquito-borne diseases.