Blakiston’s fish owl (Ketupa blakistoni) is the world’s largest owl and one of the most elusive. Endemic to remote riverine forests of northeast Asia, it is an apex predator uniquely adapted to hunt along streams and ice-free waters. Its massive frame, shaggy plumage, and specialized diet of fish and amphibians set it apart from other […]
The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) is one of the most evolutionarily distinct and critically endangered birds in the world. Endemic to New Zealand, it is the only extant species of its genus and one of just three surviving members of the ancient parrot superfamily Strigopoidea. A flightless, nocturnal herbivore with unusually long lifespan and lek-based breeding, […]
Sulu hornbill, silvery pigeon, Magenta petrel, Amsterdam albatross, and the recently reintroduced Spix’s macaw are some of the world’s rarest birds – reduced to critically small numbers, often just tens of individuals. Despite their status, these species can still be found in the wild, if you’re lucky enough to spot them.
The Great Nicobar serpent eagle (Spilornis klossi) is a little-known, island-endemic raptor confined to the dense forests of Great Nicobar and a few surrounding islands in the Indian Ocean. It is one of the world’s smallest eagles and among the rarest, with a limited population estimated at fewer than 200 mature individuals and a highly […]
The pink-headed duck and crested shelduck are currently the world’s rarest ducks, if they survive at all – having gone decades without confirmed sightings. Among extant species, the Madagascar pochard and Brazilian merganser are exceptionally rare and endangered, but can still be found in the wild, with fewer than 50 and 250 mature individuals remaining, […]
The turquoise-throated puffleg is currently the world’s rarest hummingbird, with possibly fewer than 50 individuals remaining – if it still survives at all. Close behind are the Santa Marta sabrewing and the blue-throated hillstar, each critically endangered, with only about 50 to 100 mature birds confirmed in the wild.
The Negros fruit dove, Sulu bleeding-heart, and Mindoro bleeding-heart are among the rarest doves and pigeons in the world, with only a handful of individuals possibly surviving in the wild – if at all. Recent decades have seen no confirmed sightings of some of these species, and while hope remains, their rediscovery would require both […]
The glaucous macaw, Sinu parakeet, New Caledonian lorikeet, and red-throated lorikeet are currently the rarest parrots in the world – if they still exist at all. With no confirmed sightings in decades, these species may already be lost or survive in such low numbers that they are nearly impossible to detect. Among parrots that can […]
The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is a large, forest-dwelling raptor endemic to the Philippines and one of the rarest eagles in the world. As an apex predator, it plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the country’s primary forests, using its broad wings and strong talons to hunt arboreal prey. Its elongated […]
The ivory-billed woodpecker and the imperial woodpecker are currently the rarest woodpeckers in the world, if they still exist at all. With no confirmed sightings in decades, these species are either functionally extinct or surviving in extremely low numbers, hidden in remote forests. Close behind them are the Okinawa woodpecker, yellow-faced flameback, and Fernandina’s flicker, […]