Rare new bird species discovered in papua new guinea may already face extinction

Scientists have discovered a stunning new bird species in the remote limestone forests of Papua New Guinea, but the hooded jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa urrissia) may already be at risk of extinction due to its extremely small population.

The shy, ground-dwelling bird was first spotted in 2017 when researchers set up camera traps on Iagifu Ridge in Papua New Guinea’s Agogo mountain range to survey local biodiversity. Over a decade of monitoring, scientists have photographed fewer than 10 individuals within just a 100-hectare area—roughly the size of 185 football fields. “We estimate that Iagifu Ridge may support some 50-100 individuals,” says study co-author Iain Woxvold from the Australian Museum Research Institute. “However, an accurate estimate will require further research, and the actual number may well be fewer.”

The hooded jewel-babbler joins four other known jewel-babbler species, all native to New Guinea. These distinctive birds are characterized by their black facial masks and white throat or cheek markings. When researchers first captured images of the new species, they were immediately struck by its unique coloration. “It was strange and wonderful to see them in those early photographs!” Woxvold recalls.

The discovery highlights both the incredible biodiversity still being uncovered in remote regions and the urgent conservation challenges facing newly identified species. With such a limited population confined to a small geographic area, the hooded jewel-babbler’s survival may depend on immediate protection of its specialized limestone forest habitat.