Birds - Species Extinction

Giant Haast's eagle attacking New Zealand moa

A Haast's eagle attacks already extinct New Zealand moas. The largest moas were the female South Island giant moas. They could reach a weight of up to 300 kilograms. (© John Megahan, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons)

2024-09-17 Doreen Fräßdorf

Haast’s Eagle

The largest bird of prey in modern times Before humans settled in New Zealand around 700 years ago and introduced invasive species like cats and rats, there were no land-dwelling mammals on the islands – aside from three species of bats. Instead, the ecosystem was dominated by approximately 250 bird

Male huias (bottom) reached a length of around 45 centimeters, while female huias (top) measured between 48 and 55 centimeters. The illustration is by John G. Keulemans from Walter Buller's A History of the Birds of New Zealand (1873). (© John Gerrard Keulemans, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

2024-09-15 Doreen Fräßdorf

Huia

When males and females appear as two different species The pronounced sexual dimorphism between female and male huia caused confusion in the past. This confusion was so significant that, in 1836, the English ornithologist John Gould described male and female huia as different species. Even today, the development of gender-specific

Traversia lyalli Stephens Island wren or Lyall's wren

The flightless Stephens Island wren, measuring around ten centimeters in total length, was a relatively small bird. (© Avenue, GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons)

2024-09-11 Doreen Fräßdorf

Lyall’s Wren

The tragic story of the Lyall’s wren Like the dodo, the Lyall’s wren, also known als Stephens Island wren, stands as one of the most well-known examples of bird species extinction, as the circumstances of its disappearance are both poignant and tragic. The story of the Lyall’s wren is often

dodo reconstruction in National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France

This reconstruction of a dodo is the result of interpretative work based on historical and scientific research: testimonies, representations, and bones. There is no taxidermized specimen of the species. The bird was created by the artist Camille Renversade and realized in collaboration with the taxidermy workshops of the Museum. (© Doreen Fräßdorf, photo taken at Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris, France, 2024)

2024-09-05 Doreen Fräßdorf

Dodo

Dead as a dodo The dodo, a relative of pigeons (Columbidae), is perhaps the most famous example of a species driven to extinction by humans. Representations of the bird in literature and art are common, such as in the third chapter of the children’s book Alice in Wonderland (1865) by

A depiction of the extinct Tongatapu rail by Georg Forster? Created between 1772 and 1775. (© George Forster, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

2024-08-10 Doreen Fräßdorf

Tongatapu Rail

The only specimen is now lost Many bird species from the past were described based on a single specimen, which is now lost. One such example is the Tongatapu rail. Historical reports and descriptions of this bird species from the rail family (Rallidae) remain, based on observations and collections made

Pink-headed ducks reach a length of around 60 centimeters. The males (front) have a dark pink head and neck, chocolate-brown plumage, and a crest on their heads. The females (back) and juveniles are generally somewhat paler overall. (© Henrik Grönvold (1858–1940), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

2024-07-19 Doreen Fräßdorf

Pink-headed Duck

A bird with extraordinary characteristics About half a century after the extinction of the Himalayan quail in northern India, another monotypic species vanished from the region: the Pink-headed duck, also known as the Bengali pink-headed duck. Although much has been written about this duck, many reports remain incomplete or contradictory.

Painting of a pair of Himalayan Quails by John Gould from 1883. Females are smaller and lighter; males have darker feathers, a white forehead, and white spots near the eyes. The genus name is derived from Ophrys, which refers to the eyebrow. (© John Gould, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

2024-07-18 Doreen Fräßdorf

Himalayan Quail

A mysterious bird The Himalayan quail is one of the mysteries of avian fauna. It was last conclusively sighted in 1876, and all subsequent search expeditions have been unsuccessful. However, many scientists believe that it may still survive to this day. The IUCN also lists the bird, belonging to the

The Ula-ai-hawane in the book Birds of the Sandwich Islands (1890-1899) by F. W. Frohawk. (© Frederick William Frohawk, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

2024-06-10 Doreen Fräßdorf

Ula-ai-hawane

The Hawaiian Islands once hosted 57 species of honeycreepers Honeycreepers (Drepanidini), a tribe within the finch family (Fringillidae), are found only on the Hawaiian Island chain. Honeycreepers are closely related as sister species to the rosefinches (Carpodacus), yet many species have developed characteristics that differ from those of finches. Honeycreepers

Similar to Amsterdam wigeon: Auckland duck (Anas aucklandica)

According to the ornithologists Olson and Jouventin, the extinct Amsterdam wigeon is similar to the Auckland duck (Anas aucklandica; see picture), which still exists today and is also flightless. The picture by John Gerrard Keulemans appeared in the book Buller's Birds of New Zealand (1988). (© John Gerrard Keulemans, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

2024-06-10 Doreen Fräßdorf

Amsterdam wigeon

Amsterdam duck was barely larger than a thrush Both Amsterdam Island and Saint Paul are more than 3,000 kilometers away from continents. Yet, or perhaps because of this, the islands were often visited by early sailors and their accompanying animals, leading to the extinction of all endemic birds there before

Bones of the North Island giant moa at the <a href="https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/" target="_blank" Auckland War Memorial Museum. (© Auckland Museum, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

2024-06-01 Doreen Fräßdorf

North Island Giant Moa

The second largest moa species This moa species inhabited bush, grass, and dune lands, as well as forests on New Zealand’s North Island. The North Island giant moa is considered the second largest moa species. The largest species is the South Island giant moa, which was endemic to New Zealand’s