Public release date: 15-Aug-2008
Contact: John Gibbons
Smithsonian
Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution have discovered a new species of bird in Gabon, Africa, that was, until now, unknown to the scientific community. Their findings were published in the international science journal Zootaxa today, Aug. 15.
The newly found olive-backed forest robin (Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus) was named by the scientists for its distinctive olive back and rump. Adult birds measure 4.5 inches in length and average 18 grams in weight. Males exhibit a fiery orange throat and breast, yellow belly, olive back and black feathers on the head. Females are similar, but less vibrant. Both sexes have a distinctive white dot on their face in front of each eye.
PLEASE read the entire article at EurekAlert!
How did they get this rare undiscovered bird to sit on their finger for a picture is my question???
Love your blog, and we’ll be back to visit. My kids all admired the newly discovered bird. He’s awesome.
I hope this didn’t post twice — I got interrupted in the middle and didn’t mean to if it did. Keep up the good work!
I just found your blog and wanted to say how much I love it. What a marvelous world of wonders is this planet that we call Earth!
So sweeett
XD- lol- good question- if you look closely, you’ll see that the bird isn’t actually perched. one of the safest ways to restrain very small birds is to gently but firmly grasp them by their legs- some other pics in the birds category show the technique more clearly.
here’s a good shot showing it more clearly:
http://zaxy.wordpress.com/2006/07/06/new-species-darwins-finches-reinacted/
holding them this way keeps the birds from injuring themselves when they flap around, and keeps them from being suffocated by a hand around their ribcage.
hope that’s not too much information for a simple question!
also, thanks everyone for your very kind comments! they keep me motivated!
nice to know such discoveries must be going on