Extinct birds are not as uncommon as one might think
Since the 15th century, numerous bird species have disappeared worldwide, particularly on islands. The reasons for this are diverse and often involve a combination of factors such as hunting, habitat loss, introduction of invasive species, or climate change.
The dodo, once endemic to the island of Mauritius, is perhaps the most famous of all extinct birds. The disappearance of the large, flightless pigeon in the 17th century is primarily attributed to hunting by humans, invasive species, and habitat destruction.
The New Zealand moas (Dinornithiformes) are almost as well-known as the Dodo. Moas refer to several species of large flightless birds, such as the North Island giant moa, the South Island giant moa, or the little bush moa. Their extinction in the 15th century is mainly attributed to hunting by the Maori.
Lyall’s wren, which lived exclusively on the small island of Stephens Island, is also famous. According to legend, a single cat brought to the previously uninhabited island wiped out the entire population of this flightless bird species within a year.
Colorful plumage and extinct bird species
In modern times, a significant number of parrot species (Psittaciformes) have also become extinct, such as the Carolina parakeet native to North America in the first half of the 20th century or the Cuban macaw by the end of the 19th century. Besides habitat destruction due to deforestation and invasive predators, the exotic pet trade often played a significant role in the disappearance of colorful feathered birds. The extinction of the New Zealand huia, for example, is partly attributed to the trade of the bird itself and the hunting for its twelve long black tail feathers and distinctive curved beak; it likely vanished in the early 20th century.
Then there are the Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanidini) from the Hawaiian Islands. Of the once approximately 57 species, perhaps only a third remain today, and these are highly endangered or threatened with extinction. Extinct birds of the tribe from the finch family include the ʻUla-ʻai-hāwane and the black mamo – these disappeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The causes here also lie in the destruction of their natural habitat and the emergence of invasive species, but also introduced diseases such as avian malaria and avian pox, which often lead to the death of endemic birds, contributed to their extinction.
Extinct birds: Data & facts (as of 09/2023)
According to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), worldwide, 159 bird species have become extinct since 1500 – significantly more than the number of extinct mammals, reptiles, or amphibians. However, these 159 bird species likely do not represent the full extent, as there are still many other species that have been considered lost for many years and may also have already become extinct. For example, the pink-headed duck, native to South Asia, was last seen in the mid-20th century but may have survived in unexplored areas of northern Myanmar. Similarly, the Himalayan quail has been considered missing since 1879 but is not classified as extinct because it is possible that a small population still exists.
Oceania has reported the most extinct birds with 57 species (including the Norfolk Island ground dove and the Tasmanian emu); in Sub-Saharan Africa, 45 species have disappeared (such as the Réunion pink pigeon and the Rodrigues solitaire), in North America, 31 (e.g., the ivory-billed woodpecker and the imperial woodpecker), and in the Caribbean Islands, 13 (such as the Gould’s Emerald). In Europe, only two bird species have become extinct in modern times: the great auk, hunted to extinction by humans until 1852 for its feathers, meat, fat, and oil. And the Canary Islands oystercatcher, which has not been sighted since 1913.
Among the most commonly disappeared birds – 60 species – are those belonging to the order Passeriformes, such as the Kauai Oo of Hawaii extinct in 1987 or the endemic to Colombia, Antioquia Brown-banded Antpitta, which became extinct in 1878. Second most affected are the cranes (Gruiformes) with 24 species. These include rails like the Tongatapu rail, extinct since 1777, or the St. Helena rail, extinct in the early 16th century. Additionally, 16 parrot species (Psittaciformes) and 15 pigeon species (Columbiformes) have disappeared.