`Toxic' bird has science in a flutter
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tabubil, Papua New Guinea (Reuter) - Ornithologists are quietly confident they have found a second poisonous bird in the rainforests of north-western Papua New Guinea - the variable pitohui.
Phil Gregory, publisher of the country's ornithological journal Muruk, said yesterday ornithologists now believe the variable pitohui, like the hooded pitohui, is toxic.
"I was given a juvenile variable pitohui and when I licked the feathers I felt my mouth tingle and go numb," Mr Gregory said at Tabubil's one hotel, near the border with Irian Jaya. "This suggests this bird is toxic as well, but it is not proven yet and we need to net a couple of these birds and send them for testing before we can confirm this."
Ornithologists first realised birds could be poisonous four years ago when an ecology researcher near Madang discovered the hooded pitohui was toxic. The orange and black songbird, a little larger than a starling, pecked him on the finger and after he sucked the wound his mouth went numb. Toxicology studies found its feathers, skin and flesh contained a powerful natural nerve toxin called homobatrachtoxin.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments