Rediscovery of Black-naped Pheasant Pigeon (1 Viewer)

[Andy Adcock]

After 140 years!

Black-naped pheasant-pigeon sighted in PNG for first time in 140 years

Scientists say capturing footage of the black-naped pheasant-pigeon was "a moment you dream about".

www.bbc.com

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Decent photo as well.

 

[Steve Lister]

How long is it since any birders saw it? The IOC spreadsheet says 'no recent records' but I don't think it will be 140 years. It is the Ferguson Island subspecies of Pheasant Pigeon.

 

[Jacana]

How long is it sine any birders saw it? The IOC spreadsheet says 'no recent records' but I don't think it will be 140 years. It is the Ferguson Island subspecies of Pheasant Pigeon.

No birders have seen it. Not even the scientists involved saw it in the flesh, they only got camera footage. From what I've heard through the grapevine, even local hunters rarely encounter it, though they know it was still present.

And yes, this is the insularis subspecies. Although I wonder how long it will remain as "just" a subspecies with the renewed interest.

 

[Ratal]

After 140 years!

Black-naped pheasant-pigeon sighted in PNG for first time in 140 years

Scientists say capturing footage of the black-naped pheasant-pigeon was "a moment you dream about".

www.bbc.com

That is absolutely wonderful news. Cracking looking bird too!

 

[YuShan]

Great that a rediscovery is still possible after a century and a half!
I'm sure this will add fuel to the forever simmering Ivory-Billed Woodpecker fire

 

[KC Foggin]

Good to hear.

 

[jurek]

This is New Guinea, where many regions and birds are practically not visited. This bird can be both critically endangered or quite widespread but overlooked.

Is it positively known it occurs only on Fergusson Island and not on neighboring mainland?

 

[KC Foggin]

Great that a rediscovery is still possible after a century and a half!
I'm sure this will add fuel to the forever simmering Ivory-Billed Woodpecker fire

I thought the same exact thing myself YuShan!

 

[Steve Lister]

Is it positively known it occurs only on Fergusson Island and not on neighboring mainland?

I know little of New Guinea geography but there are three other subspecies elsewhere in the archipelago.

 

[Bewick]

Great that a rediscovery is still possible after a century and a half!
I'm sure this will add fuel to the forever simmering Ivory-Billed Woodpecker fire

You cannot compare the two birds... the only reason why the pigeon wasn't seen was solely due to the lack of people actively looking for it. Ivory billed has a range that is regularly searched and not a single piece of slightly reliable evidence has been produced except from the feather that was discovered in the 60's which couldn't be aged.

 

[kennethwfd]

Great that a rediscovery is still possible after a century and a half!
I'm sure this will add fuel to the forever simmering Ivory-Billed Woodpecker fire

And the Tasmanian Tiger?

It has been sobering to view John Audubon's illustrations of birds of the USA. and so far seeing those of the Great Auk and Passenger Pigeon, both extinct