Birds around the world face environmental threats, with a heartbreaking 13% of species teetering on the brink of extinction. Do you know which bird species are rare? This article will introduce you to ten of the world's rarest bird species: Kakapo, Red-crowned Crane, Austronesian Louse, Hawaiian Crow, Chinese Crested Tern, New Caledonian Naked Owl, Great Ibis, Sumatran Ground Cuckoo, Little Owl, Heron, California Condor, Bengal Bustard, and Philippine Eagle.
1. Kakapo
The kakapo is the only flightless parrot in the world and also the largest parrot species. They are mainly found in beautiful New Zealand. It's worth mentioning that kakapos emit a sound reaching up to 132 decibels to attract mates. Yes, that's right, they make such a loud call! This piercing sound can travel at least 1 kilometer in the dark, and on a calm night, it can even travel up to 5 kilometers! Pretty amazing, right? Kakapos call for an average of 8 hours a night, making nearly a thousand calls. They're quite a loud little creature!
2. Red-crowned crane
The red-crowned crane is a member of the crane family and a large waterbird. It measures approximately 120-160 centimeters in length, with a relatively long neck and legs. Most of its body is pure white, except for a bright red crown, black throat and neck, white ears and the back of its head, and black legs. When standing, its neck, tail feathers, and legs appear black, as if it's wearing black accessories. The red crown is particularly striking, while the rest of its body is entirely white. Red-crowned cranes often roost at night in shallow water or near reeds, feeding mainly on fish, shrimp, aquatic insects, mollusks, tadpoles, snails, and the stems, leaves, tubers, bulbs, and fruits of aquatic plants. They are mainly distributed in Northeast my country, eastern Mongolia, the east bank of the Ussuri River in Russia, North Korea, South Korea, and Hokkaido, Japan.
3. South Island Lop-eared Crow
The South Island lop-eared jay is a unique bird belonging to the family Corvidae in the order Passeriformes, commonly known as the honeyeater. It displays a beautiful black face, a bill with varying degrees of curvature, and large, bright wattles at the base. Its beak is also adorned with blue and orange stripes, and its plumage is mostly dark but possesses a captivating sheen. The South Island lop-eared jay primarily inhabits dense forests in mountainous areas, feeds mainly on fruit, and its call resembles a soft, melodious song. Because of this characteristic, locals affectionately call it the "organ bird" and "bellbird." This rare species is endemic to New Zealand's South Island but has now been declared possibly extinct, with the last confirmed sighting dating back to 1967.
4. Hawaiian crow
The Hawaiian crow was a black crow measuring approximately 48-50 centimeters in length. They inhabited forests and primarily fed on lizards, seeds, and insects, occasionally catching larger butterflies. Sadly, the Hawaiian crow is extinct in the wild, but fossil discoveries indicate they were once distributed across several other islands. The exact cause of their extinction is not fully understood, but it is believed to have been due to habitat loss, overhunting by humans, and the spread of disease, leading to a drastic decline in population. Currently, only a few dozen Hawaiian crows survive on Maui, and they are kept in captivity.
5. Chinese Crested Tern
The Chinese Crested Tern is a rare bird species in China, listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, meaning it is extremely close to extinction. First recorded in 1861, it remained very rare until 2000 when it was widely believed to be extinct. A Chinese scientific expedition conducted surveys over five consecutive breeding seasons, revealing that the population of this rare bird had halved in just three years, dropping to fewer than 50 individuals in 2010.
6. New Caledonian naked-nosed owl
The New Caledonian owl is considered one of the world's most mysterious birds, only being observed accidentally in the wild in 1998. They live solitary in the humid forests of the New Caledonian archipelago, 1210 kilometers off the east coast of Australia, and our understanding of this bird is limited to two specimens. Researchers conducted field expeditions to New Caledonia in 2002 and 2007, but unfortunately, they failed to spot this elusive bird even once. It is estimated that only a few dozen adult New Caledonian owls remain in the wild.
7. Great Ibis
The Great Ibis is a unique species belonging to the genus *Symplocos* in the family Ibisidae. They primarily inhabit northern Cambodia, with only a very small number surviving in southern Laos. As the largest member of the ibis family, the Great Ibis possesses a magnificent physique. Their plumage is jet black, with only their head and neck showing bare grey skin. The Great Ibis is currently listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with hunting, disturbance, and lowland deforestation threatening their survival. It is estimated that the current population of Great Ibis may not exceed 100 individuals.
8. Sumatran ground cypress
The Sumatran Ground Cuckoo is a ground-dwelling bird that lives in the dense, humid rainforests of southern Sumatra. Its plumage is a mixture of dark green, brown, and black, giving it excellent camouflage. Meanwhile, the feathers around its eyes display a striking turquoise, blue, and purplish-red hue. Currently, only eight specimens of this bird exist, and it is estimated that only 70 to 400 individuals remain in the wild.
9. Little Owl with Spotted Trees
The Little Owl (Symplocos rubescens) is a species of owl in the family Strigidae, primarily breeding in central India. According to the 2008 IUCN Red List, the Little Owl is listed as critically endangered, with an estimated total population of no more than 250 individuals, making it extremely rare. After a 113-year hiatus since its last sighting in 1884, it reappeared in 1997. As of 2008, the Little Owl remained critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated total population of fewer than 250 individuals.
10. Herons
The heron is a bird species endemic to New Caledonia, inhabiting the dense forests of the mountains. They often emit a sharp, loud "cawing" call at night. Herons primarily prey on small animals on the ground, such as arthropods, mollusks, worms, insects, and small lizards. The heron's population is critically endangered, with a global population of only about 350 to 1500 individuals, of which about 250 to 999 are adults. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed them as an endangered species and launched a comprehensive conservation effort in New Caledonia.
The list of the top ten rarest birds is mainly compiled based on the world's most endangered and unique birds published in Progress in Biology. It is ranked and recommended according to the current total number of birds, their protection level, and other factors, combined with relevant websites. The ranking is for reference only. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment and correct us at the end.
These rare bird species are few in number and their habitats are constantly threatened. Protecting their habitats and taking sustainable conservation measures is crucial; we must work together to protect the diversity of these rare birds. Let's join hands to protect our shared planet!
