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Poisonous bird genus (1 Viewer)

steve_nova

Well-known member
I have just come across this interesting article concerning a group of birds called Pitohui's from Papua New Guinea that have poisonous alkaloids in both their feathers and skin. Interestingly, both male and female birds are brightly coloured (like poison arrow frogs) to warn off predators (presumebly birds with their excellent colour vision). Fascinating stuff!
 
Yes steve, it sure is a impressive bird genus, and Iam on good way to record all five species, I has taken years, and many hours of searching but well worth it.

Here is my list of the genus:

Hooded Pitohui Pitohui dichrous.

Rusty Pitohui Pitohui ferrugineus (Just 4 confirmed records the last 20 years).

Variable Pitohui Pitohui kirhocephalus.

Black Pitohui Pitohui nigrescens.



I hopes to record the White-bellied Pitohui Pitohui incertus, which occur in the northern Trans-Fly region, 2006, and then this genus will be fully covered by me.
 
Papuan birder said:
Yes steve, it sure is a impressive bird genus, and Iam on good way to record all five species, I has taken years, and many hours of searching but well worth it.

Here is my list of the genus:

Hooded Pitohui Pitohui dichrous.

Rusty Pitohui Pitohui ferrugineus (Just 4 confirmed records the last 20 years).

Variable Pitohui Pitohui kirhocephalus.

Black Pitohui Pitohui nigrescens.



I hopes to record the White-bellied Pitohui Pitohui incertus, which occur in the northern Trans-Fly region, 2006, and then this genus will be fully covered by me.

Have you seen Ifrita, the other poisonous genus? There should be a little blurb about these birds (Pitohui) in the Bird Forum Photo Database.

Here it is: http://www.birdforum.net/bird_view.php?bid=8742
 
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This reminds me of the research done by High B Cott and reported in his book "Looking at Animals" where he and members of his team sampled (=shot) various species of birds in Africa and found that cryptically-coloured ones tasted good and conspicuous ones (black, brightly coloured) did not. Chemical defence is all around us.
 
Hi mrpjdavis,

I'm extremely pleased, and I'm sure the Colonel would have been even more pleased that this isn't the case regarding the Red Jungle Fowl. |^|

Paul. |;|
 
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