Amazing Birds Gone Extinct
Mysterious Starling First described from a single specimen that was shot “hopping about on a tree” in 1825. Ornithologists did not visit Mauke in the Cook Islands for another 150 years, but when they did, they found that the bird had “mysteriously” disappeared. Even more “mysteriously”, introduced brown rats appeared to have taken their place. Can you solve the riddle of the Mysterious Starling?
Pagan Reed-warbler Many Pacific island reed-warblers are highly threatened by invasive species, and some have already gone extinct, such as this rangy looking bird from the Northern Mariana islands.
Least Vermilion Flycatcher Newly-recognised as a distinct species in 2016, this glossy, scarlet-and-black insectivore has the unwanted distinction of becoming the first avian extinction recorded in the Galapagos.
North Island Piopio Habitat loss and predation by cats, rats and people caused this oriole’s extinction. Known from New Zealand’s North Island, the last confirmed record dates from 1902, and there were no reports at all since 1970.
Lord Howe Gerygone This pink-eyed forest dweller was a once-abundant species endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia. That all changed when a shipwreck washed up on the island’s shores, containing stowaway black rats.
Oahu Akialoa A Hawaiian honeycreeper with a spectacular bill, this insectivore would use its bill to probe through tree bark in search of arthropods, also using it to collect nectar from flowers.
Laysan Honeycreeper Its close cousin the Apapane Himatione sanguinea is unusual among Hawaiian songbirds because it’s still relatively common. Sadly the Laysan is long gone after introduced domestic rabbits ravaged all the vegetation on the island – including the nectar sources the honeycreeper fed on.
Bishop’s Oo All species belonging to the Hawaiian genus Moho became extinct as a result of man-made threats: deforestation, competition from introduced predators and hunting – their much-sought feathers used to make capes for Hawaiian nobility.
Marianne White-eye So long, Marianne! After agricultural development destroyed its habitat, this white-eye likely became extinct between 1870 and 1890. It was lost long before the successful conservation measures that have rescued many other Seychelles endemics could be implemented.
Bonin Grosbeak This extinct finch was described from two sets of skins taken from the Ogasawara islands in Japan during expeditions in the 1820s. Over three decades later, after the islands became a stopover for whalers, naturalist William Stimpson reported that there were no grosbeaks left.