Bird species that were thought extinct that have been rediscovered. (1 Viewer)

[Andy Lakin]

I was watching a fascinating YouTube video last night about rediscovered species. They mentioned the Forest Owlet (which I had not heard the story of). I had previously read about Gurney's Pitta and its amazing reappearance.

What other stories are there of similar happenings? Also if given the money for a suitable expedition what species do people think may be worth the effort to try to track down despite a lack of credible sightings for decades?

 

[Jacana]

There are dozens of examples of species that have gone "missing" for long stretches of time, and in some cased on the verge of being declared extinct.

Takahe, New Zealand Storm Petrel, Puerto Rican Nightjar, Blue-eyed Ground Dove, Dusky Tetraka, Santa Marta Sabrewing, White-tailed Tityra are just a few that I can think of off the top of my head. Some were genuinely thought to be extinct for a time after thorough searches. Others just didn't have much effort put in for one reason or another.

There are other threads on the topic around the forum.

 

[Mendobirder]

Short-tailed Albatross is my favorite example. Wiped out by the Japanese feather trade and declared extinct when the first scientific expedition after WWII found zero birds on the nesting islands. But there were a few dozen subadults out at sea, and a few years later they began returning and breeding, and now there are a few thousand.
There are indeed many other examples.

 

[rajas]

One that I know of:

Jerdon's courser - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[tony.saw]

Black-browed Babbler Malacocincla perspicillata in Kalimantan, Indonesia refound after 172 years in 2020 (see Oriental Bird Club website)

 

[Larry Sweetland]

The story of Sumatran Cochoa being found on mount Kerinci is a gripping read. Previously only known from a couple of specimens from elsewhere on the island, I believe, and they were males so no-one even knew what the female looked like until its rediscovery.

 

[Andy Lakin]

Didn't realise these things happened so frequently. Reading up until the 90's animals could be declared extinct if they hadn't been sighted for 50 years. Now the criteria has changed it appears much more scientific but understandably the experts often disagree.

Must be mind blowing to rediscover a species!

 

[THE_FERN]

The story of Sumatran Cochoa being found on mount Kerinci is a gripping read. Previously only known from a couple of specimens from elsewhere on the island, I believe, and they were males so no-one even knew what the female looked like until its rediscovery.

According to Birdlife this is "least concern". Does that mean it was overlooked? Not many records (77) on ebird

Edit: perhaps that prompts another thread for species which were thought extinct but which are actually widespread

 

[temmie]

One that I know of:

Jerdon's courser - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Sadly 'lost' again, maybe forever.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

According to Birdlife this is "least concern". Does that mean it was overlooked? Not many records (77) on ebird

Edit: perhaps that prompts another thread for species which were thought extinct but which are actually widespread

Kaempfer's Woodpecker would be a good candidate for the latter. Went missing for many decades but actually seems reasonably common and widespread in the right habitat.

 

[pbjosh]

Kaempfer’s Woodpecker is a great example of what happens when people get out and bird in new areas / less explored areas. A “mythical lost species” ends up being quite common over a large area!

A couple more “lost” species that have been lately refound, off the top of my head:
Antioquia Brushfinch, Louisiade Pitta, Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon, Perijá Parakeet

 

[DMW]

Madagascar Pochard is a good one. It was actively searched for over many years and seemed lost for good, only to be rediscovered in a completely unlikely location.