According to official data, the subspecies of the pheasant pigeon, thought to be extinct, was last seen 140 years ago. One of the leaders of the research team compared seeing the bird to finding a unicorn.
from Papua New Guinea a bird has been found that scientists previously thought had disappeared from the world. This is reported by, among others, the British Broadcasting Company BBC.
It is a subspecies of the pheasant pigeon, the existence of which has not been scientifically confirmed since 1882.
Pheasant pigeons are relatively large birds that nest on the ground. They typically remain hidden from view, which explains why researchers have not succeeded in finding the subspecies in the past, despite attempts.
The English name of the rediscovered subspecies is black-naped pheasant-pigeon i.e. freely translated into Finnish “black-necked pheasant pigeon”. BirdLife Finland confirms that the subspecies does not have a Finnish name.
BBC says that the research team managed to locate an individual belonging to the subspecies in September after a month-long search. The bird was photographed on the small Fergusson Island on the side of the island of New Guinea, which has previously been the only environment where the subspecies has been found.
Scientific confirmation of the bird’s existence would not have been possible without the help of the local indigenous people. Aboriginal hunters had seen the bird several times and advised the research team of the location where the bird was finally photographed.
One of the leaders of the research group, John Mittemeiercompared seeing a bird to finding a unicorn.
“It was a moment that as a nature conservationist and bird watcher you dream of all your life,” he said.
Scientists believe that the population of the subspecies on the island is small, and that their numbers are likely to be declining as well. It is hoped that confirming the existence of the subspecies will help protect it.