Aug 1, 2024, 06:05 PM IST

8 beautiful birds that are poisonous

Shweta Singh

Found in New Guinea, this bird has bright orange and black plumage. Its skin and feathers contain batrachotoxin, a potent neurotoxin.

Hooded Pitohui

Also native to New Guinea, it has a more varied coloration, including shades of brown, orange, and black. It shares the same toxin as the Hooded Pitohui.

Variable Pitohui

Found in New Guinea and northern Australia, this bird has brownish-grey feathers and also carries batrachotoxin in its tissues.

Rufous (Little) Shrike-thrush

Native to the pine-oak forests of Mexico, this bird is known for its striking red plumage. It has been suggested that it may also contain batrachotoxin, though it is not as well-studied as the other species listed.

Red Warbler

A variation of the Ifrita, it features a striking blue cap along with its yellow and blue body. It also contains batrachotoxin.

Blue-capped Ifrita

Found in Australia and New Guinea, it has a subtle blue-grey plumage and possesses batrachotoxin.

Blue-grey Shrike-thrush

The Common Quail can become mildly toxic if it consumes certain toxic plants during migration, potentially causing symptoms like muscle pain in humans. However, its toxicity is significantly less severe compared to the highly poisonous pitohuis.

Common Quail

Native to New Guinea, the Brown Pitohui has brown and rust-colored plumage. Like other pitohuis, its skin and feathers contain batrachotoxin, making it one of the few known poisonous birds.

Brown Pitohui