Sicalis flaveola | saffron finch
Introduced
Introduced in 1965, saffron finches have expanded to most of Hawaiʻi Island especially in short grassy areas along the coasts and in open lawns. Adults are about 5 ½ inches, yellow in color with some stripes in the chest, black bill, and pink legs. Young birds have some yellow but are mostly gray-brown. Listen for their song as a series of single or double notes with an occasional brief trill.
The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird.
Hotspots for saffron finch
- Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary | Details for Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
- Nuʻupia Pond | Details for Nuʻupia Pond
- ʻAiea Loop Trail | Details for ʻAiea Loop Trail
- Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary | Details for Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary
- Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail | Details for Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
- Kawainui Marsh | Details for Kawainui Marsh
- Lānaʻi Lookout | Details for Lānaʻi Lookout
- Waimea Valley | Details for Waimea Valley
- Kaʻena Point Trail | Details for Kaʻena Point Trail
- Keāhole Point | Details for Keāhole Point
- Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park | Details for Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
- Makāula -‘O‘oma Trails | Details for Makāula -‘O‘oma Trails
- Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail | Details for Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
- Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road) | Details for Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)
- Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail | Details for Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
- Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail | Details for Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail
- Kaulana Manu Nature Trail | Details for Kaulana Manu Nature Trail
- Kaūmana Trail | Details for Kaūmana Trail
- Wailoa River State Park | Details for Wailoa River State Park
- Loko Waka Pond | Details for Loko Waka Pond
Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
Wetland
Nuʻupia Pond
Wetland
ʻAiea Loop Trail
Wet forest
Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetland
Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
Coastal
Kawainui Marsh
Wetland
Lānaʻi Lookout
Coastal
Waimea Valley
WetlandWet forest
Kaʻena Point Trail
Coastal
Keāhole Point
Coastal
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
Wetland
Makāula -‘O‘oma Trails
Wet forest
Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
Pasture and grasslandsDry forest
Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)
Pasture and grasslands
Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
Dry forest
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail
Wet forest
Kaulana Manu Nature Trail
Wet forest
Kaūmana Trail
Wet forest
Wailoa River State Park
Wetland
Loko Waka Pond
Wetland
