Or perhaps 10 species of birds I didn't know existed...
On this tiny planet spinning around in our enormous galaxy there are around 10,000 species of birds. Most readers of this blog are familiar with the 400-500 species of birds in Utah, and perhaps the 700 or so found in the western United States. Many probably have a pretty good understanding of the 900 or so birds of the United States as well. From there most American birders head south to Central then South America for the expanding of their ornithological knowledge. Let's face it, most of us have a pretty narrow view of the birds of the world. It's only been the last 4 years that my personal views of world birding have opened up. It's enlightening.
Prior to 2011 I didn't know the Speckled Tanager existed--now its my favorite new world species.
Before 2011 I had never been birding outside of the lower 48 states. In 17 years of birding I had just over 550 species on my life list--in the last 3 I've seen well over 1,000 species, adding almost 900 new birds to my life list. The worlds a pretty big place despite our insignificance in the big picture, and when you go birding outside of North America new birds come quickly--and some of them will change your view of birds forever.
What exactly is a White-winged Diuca-Finch? Pictured above you'll only find this bird high in the Andes.
The first time you hear about or read about a bird you never knew existed you might think, okay that's pretty cool, and then move one. If you are reading about it because you might be going to an area where you might see it, then things get serious. In my case I often think about those birds and how amazing of an experience it will be to finally see one--maybe. Then comes the day when you are out there in the field and you actually lay eyes on it. In my case I get filled with joy, and for a second think about nothing else in the world but that bird. It's a rush.
When I learned about the Crested Barbet, I had a new favorite bird in the world.
Whether or not you actually have heard of any of the birds I'm about to talk about, I think you'll appreciate this list. Most of these species were only named or discovered in the past 20 years--some are very rare--some are split form other species--some are in remote locations--
but all 10 are birds that before I wrote this, I didn't know existed.
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#10 - Rubeho Akalat, Sheppardia aurantiithorax
illustration by
Tomasz Cofta
The Rubeho Akalat is an endangered member of the Old World flycatcher family from the Tanzania.First discovered in 1989 it was assumed to be an isolated population of Iringa Akalat, but further research in 2000 led to the bird being described as a new species. It's English name relates to where it is found, Rubeho, Morogoro; the scientific name to the ochre color on its throat and breast.
Described officially to science in 2004
#9 - Antioquia Brush-finch, Atlapetes blancae
The Antioquia Brush Finch is a poorly known and critically endangered species first described in 2007 from three museum specimens from Antioquia, Colombia, that had been mislabeled as other species. All three museum skins were collected in the 1900's, but only one label had a date from 1971. Since 2007 fieldwork in Antioquia has failed to find this species again, and it is now believed to be extinct.
Described officially to science in 2007
#8 - Sierra Madre Ground Warbler, Robsonius thompsoni
The Sierra Madre Ground Warbler was discovered on Luzon Island in the Philippines where it inhabits dense forest understory. A ground-walking songbird, they have strong legs and weak wings and it appears that they can barely fly. Their song is extremely high in pitch and it's almost impossible to locate the source of the sound in the forest--often sounding far away even when they are almost at your feet.
Described officially to science in 2013
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#7 - Gray-crested Cacholote, Pseudoseisura unirufa
The Grey-crested Cacholote is a species of bird in the Furnariidae family. It is sometimes called the Rufous Cacholote, which is confusing, as this name was used for the parent species before the Gray-chested was split. It is mainly found in semi-open habitats in the Pantanal-region in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia.
Described officially to science in 2000
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#6 - Nonggang Babbler, Stachyris nonggangensis
The Nonggang Babbler was discovered in Nonggang Natural Reserve in the Guangxi, China, the only location it is known to exist at this time, in February 2005. A specimen was taken the following year, and it was formally described as a species in 2008. It prefers running to flying, and seems to spend most of its time on the ground foraging for insects between rocks and under fallen leaves.
Described officially to science in 2008
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#5 - Solomons Frogmouth, Rigidipenna inexpectata
The Solomons Frogmouth, a.k.a. the Cinnamon Frogmouth or Solomon Islands Frogmouth, the only known member of the genus Rigidipenna, was first described in 1901, but not recognized as its own species until 2007. It is endemic to the islands of Isabel, Bougainville and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Despite their being other frogmouth species, Solomons, differs with only 8 tail feathers instead of the typical 10 or 12; it has coarser feathers, barred primary and tail feathers, as well as white spots and large speckles.
Described officially to science in 2007
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#4 - Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush, Garrulax konkakinhensis
The Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush is a species of bird in the Leiothrichidae family found in tropical moist montane forests of Vietnam and perhaps Laos. It is threatened due to habitat loss.
Described officially to science in 2001
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#3 - Cambodian Tailorbird, Orthotomus chaktomuk
The Cambodian Tailorbird was discovered in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia in 2009 during bird-flu checks. In 2013 it was formally described as a new species--it is endemic to Cambodia, and likely confined to a dense shrub forest in the Mekong River floodplain. This very small bird is just under 4" in length, and sports an orange-red crest.
Described officially to science in 2013
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#2 - Sira Barbet, Capito fitzpatricki
The Sira Barbet is found in the eastern Andes in the Ucayali Department, Peru, and was discovered in 2008. It is genetically isolated due to the geography of its home range along a ridge of montane cloud forest in the Cerros del Sira. DNA sequencing was also used to confirm the Sira Barbet's status as a distinct species
Its scientific name comes from John W. Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Described officially to science in 2012
#1 - Bald Parrot, Pyrilia aurantiocephala
The monotypic Bald Parrot or Orange-headed Parrot is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae, endemic to the east-central Amazon of Brazil. It is found in tropical moist lowland forests and is considered near threatened due to the widespread deforestation of the Amazon. When discovered, it was initially believed to be a juvenile of the Vulturine Parrot due to the orange color of its bald head as opposed to the black of the Vulturine. However, the individuals discovered were sexually mature, and therefore were described as a new species. In reality, juveniles of both species have feathered, greenish heads quite unlike those of the adults.
Described officially to science in 2002
Are there any species of birds you recently learned about that you never knew existed? Share your findings in the comments section below!
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Labels: life birds, listing, lists, rare birds
