FWS Focus

Overview

Somewhat similar in appearance to a Canada Goose except only the face, cap, and hindneck are black; and Hawaiian geese have buff-colored cheeks. The front and sides of the neck appear to have black and white stripes. This is caused by diagonal rows of white feathers with black skin showing through. Males and females have identical plumage. It is also interesting to note that the dusty black feet of this goose are not completely webbed as in all other geese. Usually smaller than the Canada Goose (25" to 43"), the Hawaiian goose ranges in size from approximately 21" to 26" inches in length.

Scientific Name

Branta sandvicensis
Common Name
Nēnē
Hawaiian Goose
FWS Category
Birds
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Geography

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Timeline

Explore the information available for this taxon's timeline. You can select an event on the timeline to view more information, or cycle through the content available in the carousel below.

20 Items

Listing

Safe Harbor Agreement

Safe Harbor Agreement

Safe Harbor Agreement

Safe Harbor Agreement

Safe Harbor Agreement

Recovery Plan

Habitat Conservation Plan

Safe Harbor Agreement

Permit

Five Year Review

Habitat Conservation Plan

Habitat Conservation Plan

Habitat Conservation Plan

Permit

Downlisting

4d

Downlisting

4d

Five Year Review

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Listing

Mar 11, 1967

Mar 11, 1967 Listing (Endangered)
Endangered Species List - 1967
  • Publication type: Final
Item 1

Safe Harbor Agreement

Apr 25, 2000

Apr 25, 2000 Safe Harbor Agreement (Document Availability (non-FR))
Availability of an Environmental Action Statement and Receipt of an Application for a Permit to En…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 2

Safe Harbor Agreement

Apr 25, 2000

Apr 25, 2000 Safe Harbor Agreement (Document Availability (non-FR))
Availability of an Environmental Action Statement and Receipt of an Application for a Permit to Enha…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 3

Safe Harbor Agreement

Jun 7, 2001

Jun 7, 2001 Safe Harbor Agreement (Document Availability (non-FR))
Availability of an Environmental Action Statement and Receipt of an Application for a Permit To Enha…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 4

Safe Harbor Agreement

Jul 10, 2002

Jul 10, 2002 Safe Harbor Agreement (Document Availability (non-FR))
Proposed Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement for the Hawaiian Goose on the Island of Molokai, HI
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 5

Safe Harbor Agreement

May 7, 2004

May 7, 2004 Safe Harbor Agreement (Document Availability (non-FR))
Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement for the Introduction of Nene to Piiholo Ranch, Maui, HI
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 6

Recovery Plan

Sep 24, 2004

Sep 24, 2004 Recovery Plan (Document Availability (non-FR))
Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Nene or Hawaiian Goose(Branta sandvicensis)
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 7

Habitat Conservation Plan

Oct 4, 2005

Oct 4, 2005 Habitat Conservation Plan (Document Availability (non-FR))
Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the Kaheawa Pastures Wind Generation Facility, Ukumeha…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 8

Safe Harbor Agreement

Dec 29, 2006

Dec 29, 2006 Safe Harbor Agreement (Document Availability (non-FR))
Availability of a Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement for Five Species of Birds in Kauai, Maui, HI, and H…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 9

Permit

Dec 13, 2007

Dec 13, 2007 Permit (Issued)
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants
  • Publication type: SHA, HCP, CCAA
Item 10

Five Year Review

Mar 16, 2009

Mar 16, 2009 Five Year Review (Information Solicitation)
Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 103 Species in Hawaii
  • Publication type: Notice
Item 11

Habitat Conservation Plan

Nov 9, 2010

Nov 9, 2010 Habitat Conservation Plan (Document Availability (non-FR))
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permit; Construction and Operation of Kaheawa II Wind…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 12

Habitat Conservation Plan

Feb 8, 2011

Feb 8, 2011 Habitat Conservation Plan (Document Availability (non-FR))
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permit; Construction and Operation of Kaheawa II Wind…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 13

Habitat Conservation Plan

Jul 12, 2011

Jul 12, 2011 Habitat Conservation Plan (Document Availability (non-FR))
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Ass…
  • Publication type: Draft
Item 14

Permit

Nov 30, 2011

Nov 30, 2011 Permit (Issued)
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Incidental Take Permit Application; Habitat Conservat…
  • Publication type: SHA, HCP, CCAA
Item 15

Downlisting

Apr 2, 2018

Apr 2, 2018 Downlisting (Downlist Threatened)
Endangered and Threatened Species: Reclassifying Hawaiian Goose from Endangered to Threatened
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 16

4d

Apr 2, 2018

Apr 2, 2018 4d
Endangered and Threatened Species: Reclassifying Hawaiian Goose from Endangered to Threatened
  • Publication type: Proposed
Item 17

Downlisting

Dec 19, 2019

Dec 19, 2019 Downlisting (Downlist Threatened)
Reclassifying the Hawaiian Goose From Endangered to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule
  • Publication type: Final
Item 18

4d

Dec 19, 2019

Dec 19, 2019 4d
Reclassifying the Hawaiian Goose From Endangered to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule
  • Publication type: Final
Item 19

Five Year Review

May 10, 2022

May 10, 2022 Five Year Review (Information Solicitation)
Initiation of 5- Year Status Reviews for 167 Species in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Califor…
  • Publication type: Notice
Item 20