☣️🦜☣️ One Of A Kind Bird ☣️🦜☣️
Check out this cute little bird:
Now, there is something really unique about it. So unique, it's the only bird we know to exhibit this trait!
Can you guess what it is?
Well, let's first start with some basics.
Depicted above is a hooded pitohui, scientifically described as Pitohui dichrous, and occurs in New Guinea.
Now, what makes this bird really unique is that it is the only bird we know that is... Poisonous!
Specifically, it contains a range of batrachotoxin compounds in its skin, feathers and other tissues. This is the same toxin that poison dart frogs use.
Although its toxicity was known to the Melanesian locals since forever, it was "officially" found and described to be venomous by accident by an ornithologist called Jack Dumbacher.
He was working with some birds when he scratched his hand while handling one caught in his nets. Instinctively he put his finger in his mouth to soothe the pain but doon after his tongue and lips went numb and then even started to burn. A burn that lasted for hours and hours.
He suspected that it might have been venom from the birds but like a true scientist he confirmed his hypothesis with another experiment. He took a feather from a bird and put it directly in his mouth with similar results 😅😂
Sometime later he had a chat with the locals who also confirmed the poisonous nature of the bird. In the local language it is known as "garbage bird" due to its crappy taste when consumed. Not surprisingly, it's something they avoid to eat unless they run out of options...
And that's the quick run down of the world's only venomous bird!
Here's a video with some more pics and info on the bird
And here's some actual footage
And finally a video of Jack Dumbacher recollecting his story with the bird
Ok frens, this is it for today!
See you soon with more wonders of mother nature!
References
Posted Using INLEO
That is awesome! A poisonous bird, sounds like not quite as potent as the tree frog. But still you wouldn't want one as a pet, that's for sure!
Great find!
!PIMP
Hey..I would lol
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Wow that must be like the only poisonous bird on earth... Very smart to put the feather in the mouth lol
!PIZZA
😅😅😅
Garbage bird….. that’s funny
!pimp
🦜🚮
This guys first instinct after getting pecked by an unknown bird it to lick the wound?? Haha I wouldn't be surprised if he "discovers" a new strain of bird flu while he's at it.
Really cool bird though, didn't know they could be poisonous. Thank you for sharing.
Yeah can't blame him, I often do the same lol
This man is a little stubborn... I wouldn't do anything else... Look at his reaction when he puts his finger in his mouth... nothing else would have been necessary. I would have left it like that and sought help, but that's what I would have done.
This little animal is like a beautiful woman. You approach her, she waits and looks at you, then we get closer and closer, and she does her thing. I mean, she Try to make us fall in love hahaha.
I wish you a happy weekend.
Happy weekend as well fren !
Trying out poison by putting it into your mouth is not a smart move by Mr. Dumb acher 😅
😂😂😂😂
tiny dinosaurs
Such a facinating creature
Like you!
A wonder of nature indeed.
!BEER
!pimp
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I love learning about weird animal facts like this. The story of the local people knowing about the bird’s venomous nature way before scientists is so cool. I’m gonna remember the ‘garbage bird’ from now on!
OMG!!! Beauty can also be poisonous. It is a very beautiful bird. Thanks for sharing this rarity
That's surprisingly a unique "garbage bird." I find it a "for-your-eyes-only pretty bird." Nature never fails to amaze us😍😇
For the first time I have seen a poisonous bird, it is not as sweety as seen then :)
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That is a weird bird...but I guess they must have been hungry to eat that garbage bird.
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Wow the bird is vary beautiful this is vari nace he is more gorgeaj he is the vright choise vii i am a new user in hive keichin at last i love this bird
My first time of hearing a bird is poisonous. Thanks, I will look at it twice in case it mistakenly flies to this part of the country, Hahaha.