[Keep Our Birds from Extinction]
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Extinct birds
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Artist's rendition of a Giant Haast's eagle attacking New Zealand moa.Since 1500, over 100 species of birds have become extinct, and this rate of extinction seems to be increasing. The situation is exemplified by Hawaii, where 30% of all now-extinct species originally lived. Other areas, such as Guam, have also been hard hit; Guam has lost over 60% of its native species in the last 30 years, many of them to imported snakes.
There are today about 10,000 species of birds, and 1186 of them are considered to be under threat of extinction. Except for 11 species, the threat is man-made.
Island species in general, and flightless island species in particular are most at risk. The disproportionate number of rails in the list reflects the tendency of that family to lose the ability to fly when geographically isolated.
(This page refers only to birds that have gone extinct in historical times. See also Prehistoric birds.)
Contents [hide]
1 Extinct species
1.1 Ratites
1.2 Ducks, geese and swans
1.3 Quails and relatives
1.4 Grebes
1.5 Petrels and storm-petrels
1.6 Cormorants and related birds
1.7 Herons and related birds
1.8 Bird of prey
1.9 Rails
1.10 Shorebirds, gulls and auks
1.11 Pigeons, doves and dodos
1.12 Parrots
1.13 Cuckoos
1.14 Owls
1.15 Nightjars
1.16 Hummingbirds
1.17 Kingfishers and related birds
1.18 Woodpeckers and related birds
1.19 Passerines
2 See also
3 External links and references
[edit]
Extinct species
[edit]
Ratites
Aepyornis, Aepyornis maximus
Moa, Dinornithiformes.
Large flightless birds in New Zealand- they were probably already extinct in 1642 when Europeans landed there. The extinction of the moa and its main predator, Haast's Eagle Harpagornis moorei, is attributed to the arrival of human settlers around 1000 A.D. Very early European arrivals, ca 1830-40, described seeing birds that might have been the last of the moa but the sightings have never been reliably confirmed . New Zealand has no significant indigenous mammal life. The entire animal ecology consisted of birds, with the moa filling the niche of deer or cattle, and the harpagornis filling the niche of the wolf or tiger. Amongst the dozen or so species were Slender Moa, Dinornis robustus, Great Broad-billed Moa, Euryapteryx gravis and Lesser Megalapteryx, Megalapteryx didinus.
It has been long suspected that the species of moa described as Euryapteryx curtus / E. exilis, E. huttonii / E. crassus, and Pachyornis septentrionalis / P. mappini constituted males and females, respectively. This has been confirmed by analysis for sex-specific genetic markers of DNA extracted from bone material (Nature 425 p.175). More interestingly, the former three species of Dinornis: D. giganteus = robustus, D. novaezealandiae and D. struthioides have turned out to be males (struthioides) and females of only two species, one each formerly occurring on New Zealands North Island (D. novaezealandiae) and South Island (D. robustus) [Nature paper cited above, also Nature 425 p. 172].
Moa females were larger than males, being up to 150% of the male's size and 280% of their weight. This phenomenon - reverse size dimorphism, is not uncommon amongst ratites, being most pronounced in moa and kiwis.
On a side note, the plural form of moa is also moa, as Maori words do not feature plural-"s".
King Island Emu, Dromaius ater (Australia 1850)
Kangaroo Island Emu, Dromaius baudinianus (Australia 1827)
[edit]
Ducks, geese and swans
Korean Crested Shelduck, Tadorna cristata
A relic species from Northeast Asia. Officially critically endangered due to recent unconfirmed reports. Last confirmed record in 1964 near Vladivostok.
Réunion Shelduck, Alopochen kervazoi (Réunion, Mascarenes, 1674)
Mauritian Shelduck, Alopochen mauritianus (Mauritius, Mascarenes, 1698)
Amsterdam Island Duck, Anas marecula (Amsterdam Island, South Indian Ocean, 1800)
Mauritian Duck, Anas theodori (Mascarenes, 1710)
Finsch's Duck, Chenonetta finschi from New Zealand possibly survived to 1870
Pink-headed Duck, Netta caryophyllacea
Officially critically endangered due to parts of its former range not yet being surveyed, but probably extinct. The only area in which it might reasonably still exist is Northern Myanmar due to its remoteness: the Leaf Muntjac, a species of small deer, was newly described from the Putao area as late as 1998. Reports of Pink-headed Ducks continue to be received from this area, but searches have been inconclusive.
Madagascar Pochard, Aythya innotata:
Officially critically endangered, but probably extinct: the last known individual, a semi-captive bird at Antananarivo Botanic Gardens since 1991, this bird dying in 1992.
Labrador Duck, Camptorhynchus labradorius
This eider-like sea duck from Northwest North America was never very common. Although it has been hunted for food, it probably died out because of decline of mussels and shellfish due to pollution. The last one was seen at Elmira, New York, in 1878.
Auckland Islands Merganser, Mergus australis (Auckland Islands, Southwest Pacific, 1902)
[edit]
Quails and relatives
New Zealand Quail, Coturnix novaezelandiae (New Zealand, 1875)
Himalayan Quail, Ophrysia superciliosa (North India)
Officially critically endangered. Not recorded with certainty since 1876, but thorough surveys are still required, and there is a recent set of possible (though unlikely) sightings around Naini Tal in 2003. A little-known native name from Western Nepal probably refers to this bird, but for various reasons, no survey for Ophrysia has ever been conducted in that country, nor is it generally assumed to occur there (due to the native name being overlooked).
Heath Hen, Tympanuchus cupido cupido, (New England, North America, 1937) - a subspecies of the Greater Prairie-Chicken.
New Mexico Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus hueyi (New Mexico, North America, 1954) - a subspecies of the Sharp-tailed Grouse.
[edit]
Grebes
Colombian Grebe, Podiceps andinus (Colombia, 1977)
Atitlán Grebe, Podilymbus gigas (Guatemala, 1986)
[edit]
Petrels and storm-petrels
Guadalupe Storm Petrel, Oceanodroma macrodacyla (Guadalupe, East Pacific)
St Helena Bulwer's Petrel, Bulweria bifax (Saint Helena, Atlantic, early 16th century)
Jamaican Petrel, Pterodroma caribbaea (Jamaica, West Indies)
Might be a subspecies of the Black-capped Petrel; unconfirmed reports suggest it might survive.
Pterodroma cf. leucoptera (Mangareva, Gambier Islands, 20th century?)
A wing of a carcass similar to Gould's Petrel was recovered on Mangareva in 1922, where it possibly bred. No such birds are known to exist there today.
Falla's Petrel, Pterodroma occulta (Vanuatu? 20th century?)
Only known from 6 specimens taken in 1927 near Vanuatu. Might still survive; breeding grounds unknown and was not recognized until 2001.
St Helena Gadfly Petrel, Pterodroma rupinarum (Saint Helena, Atlantic, early 16th century)
[edit]
Cormorants and related birds
Spectacled Cormorant, Phalacrocorax perspicillatus
[edit]
Herons and related birds
Réunion Night Heron, Nycticorax duboisi (Réunion, Mascarenes, 1674)
Mauritius Night Heron, Nycticorax mauritianus (Mauritius, Mascarenes, 1700)
Rodrigues Night Heron, Nycticorax megacephalus (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, 1761)
Ascension Night Heron, Nycticorax olsoni (Ascension Island, Atlantic, late 16th century?)
New Zealand Little Bittern, Ixobrychus novazelandiae (New Zealand, 1900)
Réunion Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis solitarius (Réunion, Mascarenes 1750)
This species was the base for the supposed "Réunion Solitaire", a supposed relative of the Dodo and the Rodrigues Solitaire. Given the fact that ibis, but no dodo-like bones were found on Réunion and that old descriptions match a flightless Sacred Ibis quite well, the "Réunion Solitaire" hypothesis has been refuted.
The "Painted Vulture" (Sarcorhamphus sacra), a Floridan bird supposedly similar to the King Vulture, is based on a misidentification of the Crested Caracara.
[edit]
Bird of prey
Ndzouani Goshawk, Accipiter francesii pusillus
This subspecies of Frances' Goshawk from Ndzouani (Anjouan), Comoros, was last seen in 1978; given that few habitat remains, it is probably extinct.
Car Nicobar Sparrowhawk, Accipiter butleri butleri (Car Nicobar, Nicobar Islands, 20th century?)
The nominate subspecies of the Nicobar Sparrowhawk - which is currently listed as Vulnerable - is possibly extinct. It was last reliably recorded in 1901 and despite searches, has not been sighted after an unconfirmed record in 1977.
Korean Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus niger, a subspecies of Steller's Sea Eagle (Korea, 1950s)
Guadalupe Caracara, Polyborus lutosus (Guadelupe, East Pacific, 1900 or 1903)
Réunion Kestrel, Falco duboisi (Réunion, Mascarenes, c.1700)
[edit]
Rails
Saint Helena Swamphen, Aphanocrex podarces (Saint Helena, Atlantic, 16th century) - formerly Atlantisia
Lord Howe Swamphen, Porphyrio albus (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, early 19th century)
Marquesan Swamphen, Porphyrio paepae (Hiva Oa, Marquesas)
May have survived into the 19th century. in the lower right corner of Paul Gauguin's 1902 painting Le Sorcier d'Hiva Oa ou le Marquisien à la cape rouge there is a bird which reminds of native descriptions of P. paepae.
North Island Takahe, Porphyrio mantelli from North Island, New Zealand, may have survived into the 19th century.
Oiseau bleu, Porphyrio sp. (Réunion, Mascarenes, around 1750)
Known only from descriptions. Former existence of a Porphyrio on Réunion fairly certain, but not proven to date.
Antillean Cave-Rail, Nesotrochis debooyi from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands possibly survived into the Modern Era.
Mauritius Red Hen, Aphanapteryx bonasia (Mauritius, Mascarenes)
Leguat's Gelinote, Aphanapteryx leguati (Rodrigues, Mascarenes)
Hawkins' Rail, Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific, 19th century)
Réunion Rail, Dryolimnas augusti (Réunion, Mascarenes, c.1700)
Dieffenbach's Rail, Gallirallus dieffenbachii (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
Chatham Islands Rail, Gallirallus modestus (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
Tahitian Red-billed Rail, Gallirallus pacificus (Tahiti, Society Islands)
Wake Island Rail, Gallirallus wakensis (Wake Island, Micronesia)
Ascension Island Rail, Mundia elpenor (Ascension, Island, Atlantic, late 17th century) - formerly Atlantisia
Saint Helena Crake, Porzana astrictocarpus (Saint Helena, Atlantic, early 16th century)
Kosrae Island Crake, Porzana monasa (Kosrae, Carolines)
Laysan Rail, Porzana palmeri (Laysan Island, Hawai?ian Islands, 1943)
Hawaiian Rail, Porzana sandwichensis (Big Island, Hawai?ian Islands)
Samoan Wood Rail, Pareudiastes pacificus
Tristan Moorhen, Gallinula nesiotis (Tristan da Cunha, Atlantic)
Mascarene Coot, Fulica newtonii (Mauritius and Réunion, Mascarenes, c.1700)
Rallidae gen. et sp. indet.
Unknown rail from Amsterdam Island, one specimen found but not recovered. Extinct by 1800.
[edit]
Shorebirds, gulls and auks
Javanese Lapwing, Vanellus macropterus
Tahitian Sandpiper, Prosobonia leucoptera
White-winged Sandpiper, Prosobonia ellisi
Eskimo Curlew, Numenius borealis - may still exist; officially classified as critically endangered
Great Auk, Alca impennis or Pinguinus impennis. At 75 centimeters, the flightless Great Auk was the largest of the auks. It was hunted to extinction for food and down for mattresses. The last pair were killed July 3, 1844.
Canarian Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus meadewaldoi
[edit]
Pigeons, doves and dodos
DodoSaint Helena Flightless Pigeon, Dysmoropelia dekarchiskos, possibly survived into the Modern Era.
Passenger Pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius
The passenger pigeon was once probably the most common bird in the world, a single swarm numbering up to several billion birds. It was hunted close to extinction for food and sport in the late 19th century. The last individual died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.
Madeiran Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus maderensis, the Madeiran subspecies of the Wood Pigeon
Réunion Pigeon, Columba duboisi (Réunion, Mascarenes)
Rodrigues Pigeon, Columba rodericana (Rodrigues, Mascarenes) - possibly subspecies of the Madagascar Pigeon
The Silvery Pigeon, Columba argentina, has not been observed for considerable time and may be extinct.
Bonin Wood Pigeon, Columba versicolor
Lord Howe Metallic Pigeon, Coluumba vitiensis godmanae, the Lord Howe Island subspecies of the Metallic Pigeon
Ryukyu Pigeon, Columba jouyi
Choiseul Crested Pigeon, Microgoura meeki (Choiseul, Solomon Islands)
Liverpool Pigeon, "Caloenas" maculata
Also known as the Spotted Green Pigeon, the only specimen has been in Liverpool Museum since 1851, and was probably collected on a Pacific island for Edward Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby. It has been suggestes that this bird came from Tahiti based on native lore about a somewhat similar extinct bird called titi, but this has not been verified.
Dodo, Raphus cucullatus
Called Didus ineptus by Linnaeus. A meter-high (yard-high) flightless bird found on Mauritius. Its forest habitat was lost when Dutch settlers moved to the island and the dodo's nests were destroyed by the monkeys, pigs, and cats the Dutch brought with them. The last specimen was killed in 1681, only 80 years after the arrival of the new predators. See also dodo tree.
Rodrigues Solitaire, Pezophaps solitaria (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, c.1730)
For the "Réunion Solitaire", see Réunion Flightless Ibis.
Marquesas Fruit Pigeon, Ptilinopus mercierii
Mauritius Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissima (Mauritius, Madcarenes, 19th century)
Rodrigues Grey Pigeon, "Alectroenas" rodericana (Rodrigues, Mascarenes)
A mysterious bird of unknown affinities, known from one or two bones and the description of François Leguat.
Tanna Ground Dove, Gallicolumba ferruginea (Tanna, Vanuatu)
Thick-billed Ground Dove, Gallicolumba salamonis
Norfolk Island Ground Dove, Gallicolumba norfolciensis (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific)
[edit]
Parrots
Norfolk Island Kaka, Nestor productus (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, 1851)
Paradise Parrot, Psephotus pulcherrimus (Australia, 1927)
Society Parakeet, Cyanoramphus ulietanus
Black-fronted Parakeet, Cyanoramphus zealandicus
Macquarie Island Red-crowned Parakeet, Cyanoramphus erythrotis erythrotis (Macquarie Islands, Southwest Pacific)
Lord Howe Island Red-fronted Parakeet, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae subflavescens (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific)
Seychelles Parakeet, Psittacula wardi (Seychelles, 1883)
Newton's Parakeet, Psittacula exsul (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, 1875)
Carolina Parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis
The only parrot native to the eastern US, the Carolina Parakeet was hunted to extinction for its plumage and to prevent damage to crops; it also suffered from destruction of its habitat. The last one died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918.
Mascarene Parrot, Mascarinus mascarinus
Broad-billed Parrot, Lophopsittacus mauritianus (Mauritius, Mascarenes, 1680)
A smaller related form described as Mauritius Grey Parrot (Lophopsittacus bensoni), may be the female of L. mauritianus.
Rodrigues Parrot, Necropsittacus rodericanus
The species N. borbonicus and N. francicus are almost certainly fictional.
Glaucous Macaw, Anodorhynchus glaucus (North Argentina)
Officially critically endangered due to persistent rumours of wild birds, but probably extinct.
Cuban Red Macaw, Ara tricolor (Cuba, West Indies)
A number of related species have been described from the West Indies, but are not based on good evidence. Several prehistoric forms are now known to have existed in the region, however.
Martinique Amazon, Amazona martinica (Martinique, West Indies)
Guadeloupe Amazon, Amazona violacea (Guadeloupe, West Indies)
The extinct amazon parrots were originally described after travelers' descriptions. Both are nowadays considered valid extinct species closely related to the Imperial Parrot.
New Caledonian Lorikeet, Charmosyna diadema
Officially critically endangered, there have been no reliable reports of this bird since the early 20th century.
[edit]
Cuckoos
Delalande's Coua, Coua delalandei (Madagascar)
Saint Helena Cuckoo, Nannococcyx psix (Saint Helena, Atlantic, 16th century)
[edit]
Owls
Reunion Owl, Mascarenotus grucheti (Réunion, Mascarenes, early 17th century)
Mauritius Owl, Mascarenotus sauzieri (Mauritus, Mascarenes, c.1850) - synonyms: Otus/Scops commersoni, Strix newtoni, Strix sauzieri
Rodrigues Little Owl, Mascarenotus murivora (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, mid-18th century) - synonyms: Athene murivora, Bubo leguati
Sulu Reddish Scops Owl, Otus rufescens burbidgei (Sulu, Philippines, mid-20th century)
A subspecies of the Reddish Scops Owl. Known from a single questionable specimen and may not be valid.
Virgin Islands Screech Owl, Otus nudipes newtoni
A subspecies of the Puerto Rican Screech Owl of somewhat doubtful validity which occurred on several of the Virgin Islands, West Indies. The last reliable records are in 1860; it was not found in thorough surveys in 1995.
Socorro Elf Owl, Micrathene whitneyi graysoni (Socorro, Revillagigedo Islands, 1970)
Antiguan Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia amaura (Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis, West Indies, c.1905) - subspecies of the Burrowing Owl
Bahaman Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia guadeloupensis (Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante, West Indies, c.1890) - subspecies of the Burrowing Owl
New Caledonian Boobook, Ninox cf. novaeseelandiae (New Caledonia, Melanesia)
Known only from prehistoric bones, but might still survive.
Lord Howe Island Morepork, Ninox novaezelandia albaria (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, 1950s) - subspecies of the Southern Boobook
Norfolk Island Morepork, Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, 1996)
Individuals of the nominate subspecies were introduced in a last-ditch effort to save the local owl population. There now exists a hybrid population of a few dozen birds; the last individual of N. n. undulata, a female named Miamiti died in 1996.
Laughing Owl, Sceloglaux albifacies (New Zealand, 1914?) - two subspecies, S. a. albifacies and S. a. rufifacies
Cave-nesting Masked Owl, Tyto novaehollandiae troughtoni (Nullarbor Plain, Australia, 1960s)
Doubtfully distinct from nominate subspecies, but differed behaviorally.
Buru Masked Owl, Tyto sororcula cayelii (Buru, Indonesia, mid-20th century)
Subspecies of Lesser Masked Owl. Last seen in 1921; the identity of a similar bird found on Seram remains to be determined.
Peleng Masked Owl, Tyto rosenbergii pelengensis (Peleng, Banggai Islands, mid-20th century)
Subspecies of Sulawesi Owl or separate species. Possibly extant, but only specimen known taken in 1938 and no further records.
Samar Bay Owl, Phodilus badius riverae (Samar, Philippines, mid-20th century)
Subspecies of Oriental Bay Owl or possibly distinct species. Taxonomy doubtful but only specimen lost in 1945 bombing raid so validity cannot be verified; no population exists on Samar today.
[edit]
Nightjars
Jamaican Parauque, Siphonorhis americana (Jamaica, West Indies, late 19th century
Reports of unidentifiable nightjars in habitat appropriate for S. americanus suggest that this cryptic species may still exist. Research into this possibility is currently underway.
Cuban Parauque, Siphonorhis daiquiri (Cuba, West Indies)
Described from subfossil bones in 1985. There are persistent rumors that this bird, which was never seen alive by scientists, may still survive. Compare Puerto Rican Nightjar.
New Caledonian White-throated Eared-Nightjar, Eurostopodus mystacalis exsul (New Caledonia, Melanesia, mid-20th century)
This distinct subspecies of the White-throated Eared-Nightjar is possibly a separate species. It was found only once; due to its cryptic habits, it possibly still exists, but this is now considered unlikely.
Vaurie's Nightjar, Caprimulgus centralasicus
Only known from a single 1929 specimen from Xinjiang, China. It has never been found again, and it is quite possibly invalid as it has not yet been compared to the similar subspecies of the European Nightjar, C. europaeus plumipes which occurs at the locality where C. centralasicus was found.
[edit]
Hummingbirds
Coppery Thorntail, Discosura letitiae (Bolivia?)
Known only from 3 trade specimens of unknown origin. Might still exist.
Brace's Emerald, Chlorostilbon bracei (New Providence, Bahamas, late 19th century)
Gould's Emerald, Chlorostilbon elegans (Jamaica or northern Bahamas, West Indies, late 19th century)
Alfaro's Hummingbird, Saucerottia alfaroana (Costa Rica, c.1900)
Bogota Sunangel, Heliangelus zusii (Colombia?)
A mysterious bird known only from a single specimen of unknown origin. Might be a hybrid (although the specimen is very distinct) or might still exist.
Alejandro Selkirk Firecrown, Sephanoides fernandensis leyboldi (Alejandro Selkirk Island, Juan Fernandez Islands, Southeast Pacific, 1908) - subspecies of the Juan Fernandez Firecrown.
[edit]
Kingfishers and related birds
Ryukyu Kingfisher, Halcyon miyakoensis (Miyako-jima, Ryukyu Islands, late 19th century)
This was probably a sub-species of the Micronesian Kingfisher Halycon cinnamomina. Only seen once by scientists, in 1887; the specimen taken is somewhat damaged, making identification by other than molecular analysis difficult.
Mangareva Kingfisher, Todiramphus gambieri gambieri (Mangareva, Tuamotus, late 19th century)
Only known from a single 1844 specimen, the nominate subspecies of the Tuamotu Kingfisher was not found anymore when it was next searched for in 1922.
Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher, Alcedo euryzona euryzona (Java, Indonesia, mid-20th century)
The nominate subspecies of the Blue-banded Kingfischer; the last specimen was taken in 1937 and the last unconfirmed records are fron the 1950s.
Guadalcanal Little Kingfisher, Alcedo pusilla aolae (Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands)
This subspecies of the Little Kingfisher is probably extinct.
Malaita Variable Kingfisher, Ceyx lepidus malaitae (Malaita, Solomon Islands)
A subspecies of the Variable Kingfisher which has not been observed in a long time and is probably extinct.
Sakarha Pygmy Kingfisher, Ispidina madagascariensis dilutus (Southwest Madagascar, late 20th century?)
This subspecies of the Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher is only known from one specimen taken in 1974 in an area where most habitat had already been lost.
Giant Hoopoe, Upupa antaois (Saint Helena, Atlantic, early 16th century)
Ticao Tarictic Hornbill, Penelopides panini ticaensis (Ticao, Philippines, 1970s)
A subspecies of the Tarictic Hornbill of somewhat uncertain status - possibly a distinct species, possibly a color morph -; the last confirmed report was in 1971 and it became extinct shortly thereafter.
[edit]
Woodpeckers and related birds
Northern White-mantled Barbet, Capito hypoleucus hypoleucus (Colombia, mid-20th century)
The nominate subspecies of the White-mantled Barbet has not been seen since the late 1940s and its habitat has been almost completely destroyed.
Botero White-mantled Barbet, Capito hypoleucus carrikeri (Colombia, mid-20th century)
Another subspecies of the White-mantled Barbet, last seen in 1950.
Guadalupe Flicker, Colaptes cafer rufipileus (Guadalupe, East Pacific, c.1910)
A subspecies of the Red-shafted Flicker (or the Northern Flicker, as C. auratus rufipileus), it was last recorded in 1906 and not found anymore in 1922. Recently, vagrant birds of a mainland subspecies have begun recolonizing the island as the habitat improves after the removal of feral goats.
Caatinga woodpecker, Celeus obrieni (Western Piauí, Brazil, mid-20th century)
This bird is known from a single specimen taken in 1926 and was long believed to be a subspecies of the Rufous-headed Woodpecker. As it was confined to caatinga habitat, which has been largely destroyed, it is most likely extinct.
Imperial Woodpecker, Campephilus imperialis (Mexico, late 20th century)
This 60-centimeter-long woodpecker is officially listed as critically endangered and is believed to now be extinct. Occasional unconfirmed reports come up, the most recent in late 2005.
Javan Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Meiglyptes tristis tristis (Java, Indonesia, c.1920)
The nominate subspecies of the Buff-rumped Woodpecker became rare during the 19th century due to destruction of habitat. The last confirmed record was in 1880, and it obviously became extinct in the early 20th century.
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Campephilus principalis, was believed to be extinct since 1987, when the last positive sighting was made in Cuba. However, at least one living male was apparently rediscovered in Arkansas in 2004 and 2005.
[edit]
Passerines
Stephens Island Wren, Xenicus lyalli (New Zealand, 1894)
Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes (New Zealand, 1972)
3 subspecies: X. l. stokesi - North Island, extinct 1955; X. l. longipes - South Island, extinct 1968; X. l. variabilis - Stewart Island, extinct 1972.
North Island Piopio, Turnagra tanagra (North Island, New Zealand, 1955)
South Island Piopio, Turnagra capensis (South Island, New Zealand, 1963)
Kioea, Chaetoptila angustipluma
Hawai?i ?O?o, Moho nobilis (Big Island, Hawai?ian Islands)
O?ahu ?O?o, Moho apicalis (O?ahu, Hawai?ian Islands)
Moloka?i ?O?o, Moho bishopi (Moloka?i and probably Maui, Hawai?ian Islands)
Kaua?i ?O?o, Moho braccatus (Kaua?i, Hawai?ian Islands, 1987)
Lord Howe Gerygone, Gerygone insularis
Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris (North Island, New Zealand, 1907)
Maupiti Monarch, Pomarea pomerea (Maupiti, Society Islands, 1850)
Guam Flycatcher, Myiagra freycineti (Guam, Marianas)
Bonin Islands Thrush, Zoothera terrestris
Grand Cayman Thrush, Turdus ravidus
Bay Thrush, "Turdus" ulietensis (Raiatea, Society Islands, between 1774 and 1850)
A completely mysterious bird from Raiatea, now only known from a painting and some descriptions of a (now lost) specimen. Its taxonomic position is unresolvable, although for biogeographic reasons and because of the surviving description, it has been suggested to have been a honeyeater. However, with the discovery of fossils of the prehistorically extinct starling Aplonis diluvialis on neighboring Huahine, it seems more likely that this bird also belonged into this genus.
Kosrae Island Starling, Aplonis corvina (Kosrae, Carolines)
Mysterious Starling, Aplonis mavornata (Mauke, Cook Islands)
Norfolk and Lord Howe Starling, Aplonis fusca (Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific)
Bourbon Crested Starling, Fregilupus varius (Réunion, Mascarenes)
Rodrigues Starling, Necropsar rodericanus (Rodrigues, Mascarenes)
The bird variously described as Testudophaga bicolor, Necropsar leguati or Orphanopsar leguati which was considered to be identical with N. rodericanus (which is only known from fossils) was finally resolved to be based on a misidentified partially albinistic specimen of the Martinique Trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis) (Olson et al., Bull. B.O.C. 125:31).
Lord Howe Island White-eye, Zosterops strenua
Aldabran Brush Warbler, Nesillas aldabranus
Chatham Islands Fernbird, Bowdleria rufescens
Eastern Canary Islands Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus canariensis exsul (Lanzarote and possibly Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, 1986)
A subspecies of the Canary Islands Chiffchaff.
Bonin Islands Grosbeak, Chaunoproctus ferreorostris
Akialoa,Hemignathus obscurus
Ula-?ai-hawane, Ciridops anna
Black Mamo, Drepanis funerea
Hawaii Mamo, Drepanis pacifica
Kakawahie, Paroreomyza flammea
Kona Grosbeak, Psittirostra kona
Lesser Koa-finch, Rhodacanthus flaviceps
Greater Koa-finch, Rhodacanthus palmeri
Greater Amakihi, Viridonia sagittirostris
Po?o-uli, Melamprosops phaeosoma (Maui, Hawai?ian Islands)
The most recent extinction on this list. What was most likely the last known bird has died in captivity on 28 November 2004.
Slender-billed Grackle, Quiscalus palustris (Mexico, 1910)
Bachman's Warbler, Vermivora bachmanii
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See also
List of extinct animals
Prehistoric birds
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External links and references
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Extinct Birds Stock Photography
Extinct Birds from John James Audubon's Birds of America
Utrotade faaglar (in Swedish)
New Zealand Extinct Birds List
Extinct bird forum
The Extinction Website
List adapted from that in Extinct Birds, Fuller, ISBN 0-19-850837-9 (Extinct Birds is an absorbing study of the world's recently extinct bird species, the first complete survey since Walter Rothschild's classic work of 1907)
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