This bird species only lives on the mysterious island nation of Papua New Guinea and is the first known poisonous bird in the world.
When we think of birds, we often envision beautiful, gentle creatures with melodious songs. However, few are aware that Papua New Guinea is home to several bird species that can be deadly due to their venom – and it’s best not to pet or attempt to domesticate them.
The Island Nation with Many Poisonous Birds
As a country situated near the equator and covered in dense tropical forests, the ecosystem of Papua New Guinea is incredibly diverse yet remains largely unexplored. This is partly due to the island’s isolation from the rest of the world.
In the early 1990s, ornithologist Jack Dumbacher accidentally discovered the hooded pitohui during a memorable field experience. However, while trapping birds, he was attacked by these colorful birds. This discovery marked the first scientific documentation of a poisonous bird.
Poisonous Pitohui Bird. (Photo Science News for Students).
Originally there to study the most famous bird species – the birds of paradise, he accidentally trapped hooded pitohuis and was scratched and bitten by them.
Despite his extensive knowledge of birds, he did not expect that these mysterious creatures would possess a terrifying venom. Underestimating the wound, which became swollen, he even placed it in his mouth!
This decision nearly cost him his life as his mouth began to itch, burn, and go numb for hours. He later learned that he had come into contact with a toxin called batrachotoxin (similar to the poison of the golden poison dart frog), which can paralyze the nervous system by inhibiting ion production.
| Batrachotoxin (BTX) is a series of neurotoxins that disrupt the flow of sodium ions in various channels of the nervous system and soft tissues. BTX causes numbness and burning in cases of mild poisoning. In severe poisoning cases, BTX can cause paralysis, cardiac arrest, and death. BTX is considered one of the most dangerous toxins in nature (over 250 times more toxic than strychnine). |
Subsequent studies showed that the pitohui also contain toxins in their skin, bones, and internal organs, although the concentration of toxins is not as high as in their feathers. The fact that the toxins are found in the internal organs of the pitohui indicates that they are not adversely affected by these substances. Interestingly, the concentration of BTX varies among individual pitohui, as well as the regions they inhabit.
Where Does This Bird’s Venom Come From?
Fortunately, the amount of venom he encountered was not enough to be fatal, but exposure to larger amounts could lead to paralysis of the nervous system, inability to breathe, internal bleeding, organ damage, and ultimately… death! Consuming their flesh would result in poisoning, and obviously, consuming enough would be lethal.
The venom of this deadly bird comes from toxic beetles that they typically eat. Through the process of evolution, this bird has developed resistance to the toxins, but the poison from its food does not disappear; it spreads throughout its body, affecting its skin, feathers, and beak. Therefore, even without eating the bird, simply touching its feathers can pose a lethal risk.
Pitohui Only Found in Papua New Guinea. (Photo Discover Life).
Because of this, merely touching their feathers can lead to poisoning, let alone consuming them. This bird also possesses a vibrant appearance, a characteristic that seems to be present in other poisonous animals, like poison dart frogs, serving as a warning tool to deter predators.
Additionally, their distinctive foul smell helps locals identify the pitohui, as it smells very similar to garbage, leading them to nickname it “rubbish bird.”
Scientists have since taken an interest in this bird and discovered that there are six species of pitohui, with the most dangerous being the hooded pitohui, all belonging to the family Oriolidae.
Moreover, the rainforests of New Guinea are home to many other poisonous bird species that researchers have recently discovered, such as the “Blue-capped Ifrita” from the family Colluricinclidae, locally known as “slek-yakt,” and the bitter bird or the Little Shrikethrush.
