songbirds - Species Extinction

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

A prepared huia pair (female on the right, male on the left) in the Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum. This specimen is not up for auction. (© Dr Mirko Junge, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

2024-09-15 Doreen Fräßdorf

Taxidermied Huia Pair Expected to Fetch Up to NZ$128,000 at London Auction

A rare taxidermied pair of huia birds could fetch up to NZ$128,000 at an auction in London. Organized by Roseberys London, the auction is scheduled for October 2024. The huia pair, consisting of a male and a female, dates back to the late 19th century and is considered extremely rare.

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

Mussau Triller rediscovered after 44 years

The Mussau triller, long thought to be lost since 1979, was rediscovered in June 2024 on Mussau Island in Papua New Guinea. (© Photo by Joshua Bergmark/Ornis Birding Expeditions)

2024-08-28 Doreen Fräßdorf

Mussau Triller: Lost Bird Species Rediscovered After 44 Years

The Mussau triller (Lalage conjuncta), last documented in 1979, was rediscovered in June of this year by Australian bird photographer Joshua Bergmark during a tour with a group of birdwatchers. This songbird species, part of the cuckooshrike family, is endemic to Mussau Island, located in the Bismarck Archipelago north of

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