Extremely rare set of 12 species of extinct birds

A set of rare photos of some extinct bird species such as passenger pigeon, ivory ants, Guam flycatcher .

1. Alaotra Grebe diving bird (Tachybaptus rufolavatus) taken about 1985 before

This is not only a color photo of Alaotra Grebe bird in nature but also the only picture of this bird. Alaotra Grebe originated from Lake Alaotra in Madagascar, not seen since 1985.

According to International Birdlife, this species may be extinct because its habitat is invaded and destroyed by two predatory fish species Micropterus and Ophiocephalus as well as human activities.

2. The passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was taken in 1896

Passenger pigeon was once one of the most numerous birds in the world. Estimates that when Europeans started coming to America, there were about 3 to 5 billion pigeons here. But at the beginning of the 20th century, the bird was extinct due to being hunted for excessive meat. The last passenger pigeon died on September 1, 1914 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

3. Carolina macaws (Conuropsis carolinensis) taken in 1906

Deforestation to expand farmers' land, the movement of killing parrots for ornaments and epidemics destroyed this beautiful parrot. The wild Carolina parrot was finally killed in 1904. By 1918, the last of the Carolina parrots was left to die at the Cincinnati Zoo.

4. Pair of ivory-sized woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) taken in 1935

The ivory ants, about 51cm long, 76cm wingspan, originating from the jungle area in Southeast America, are one of the largest woodpeckers in the world. Deforestation and hunting have pushed this species into an extremely dangerous list.

The ivory ants were once thought to be completely extinct until 2004, when a group of researchers recorded the emergence of some species of this species. However, there is still not enough evidence about their existence.

5. The Bushwren South Island bird (Xenicus longipes) captured in 1911

The Bushwren of the South Island is only 9cm long, unable to fly, mainly eating invertebrates by jumping along branches, often nesting near the ground, living in New Zealand.

At the end of the nineteenth century, weasels and rats flourished here that destroyed this bird. The South Bushwren South Island bird was finally seen in 1968.

6. Guam flycatcher (Myiagra freycineti) nest on bamboo clusters, taken in 1948

Blue Guam Flycatcher, native to Guam in the Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean. The number of these species dropped dramatically in the 1970s due to the destruction of tree snakes (alien species introduced to Guam in the 1940s). The last individual was seen in 1983.

7. Wake Island Chicken Chicken (Gallirallus wakensis) taken in 1936

Wake Island chicken originated at Wake Atoll, an island between Honolulu and Guam in the North Pacific. They eat insects, mollusks, can live for a long time without drinking water. It is possible that due to flightlessness with geographical isolation, this species was hunted to extinction.

8. Atitlan diving birds (Podilymbus gigas)

This is a relative of the Pied Grebe bird, 50cm long, living in Guatemala's Lago de Atitlan area. The number of these birds began to decline in the late 1950s and early 1960s because the Micropterus Dolomieu and Micropterus salmoides fish were released into lakes. These carnivorous fishes not only eat fish, small crabs, which are the food of Atitlan dive birds but also eat young birds. The Atitlan dive pair was finally seen in 1989.

9. Eskimo birds (Numenius borealis) taken in 1962

Eskimo birds are 30cm long, long beaks, eat snails and other invertebrates. It was the largest waterbird in North America, with millions of birds. The cause of extinction is hunting.

In the late 19th century, about 2 million Eskimo beetles were destroyed each year. However, scientists still harbor a fragile hope about the existence of this species, as there are several reports of their occurrence in 1962, 1963 and some other times that have not been verified. .

10. Laysan water chicken (Limnocorax palmeri) taken in 1913

Laysan water chicken, originating from the island of Hawaii, is only 15cm long but very aggressive. The mouse that followed American warships in the Second World War entered the island, which caused the bird to die in 1945.

11. Paradise Parrot (Psephotus pulcherrimus) taken in 1922

This species of parrot has many bright red, brown and black colors. Trapping, egg collection and other human activities, along with epidemics, caused the parrot to become extinct in September 1927.

12. Sceloglaux albifacies taken in 1909

This owl is native to New Zealand, living in a low area in rocky mountains and forests. The number of these owls declined in the 1880s. The last owl was seen around 1925-1927. The extinction cause of South Island laughter is due to human activities along with predators such as cats and ferrets.