Aldabra brush warbler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aldabra brush warbler |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nesillas
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| Species: |
aldabrana
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| Synonyms | |
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Nesillas aldabranus (lapsus) |
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The Aldabra brush warbler (Nesillas aldabrana) was a small bird that used to live only on the Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles islands. Sadly, this bird is now extinct, meaning there are no more left in the world. The last time anyone saw one was in 1983. It belonged to a bird family called acrocephalid warblers.
Contents
What Did It Look Like?
The Aldabra brush warbler was a thin bird. It had short wings and a long, pointy tail. It grew to be about 18 to 20 cm (7.1 to 7.9 in) long. Its back feathers were a dull brownish-gray color. Its belly was a bit lighter. We don't know what its song sounded like. But its call was a "chirrup" sound, like a nasal, three-part chirp.
Where Did It Live?
This bird was very shy. It was hard to see because it lived deep in the thick bushes. The best way to find it was by listening for its special chirruping call. It was only found on the island of Malabar, which is part of the Aldabra atoll.
Discovery and Why It Disappeared
How Was It Found?
British bird experts Constantine Walter Benson, Malcolm Penny, and Tony Diamond first found the Aldabra brush warbler in 1967. Benson and Penny officially described the bird in 1968. They based their description on a male bird, a female bird, and a nest with three eggs. Young birds were never seen.
The Last Sightings
After its discovery, the bird was not seen again for several years. Then, from 1974 to 1976, a scientist named Robert Prys-Jones from the British Museum of Natural History looked for them. In late 1975, he found six more birds. All of them were males. He put rings on their legs and took pictures.
By 1983, only one male Aldabra brush warbler was seen. At that time, it was thought to be the rarest bird in the world. It lived in a very small area, only about 10 hectares (about 25 acres) along the coast of Malabar Island.
Why Did It Go Extinct?
Scientists looked very hard for the bird in 1986, but they could not find any. This confirmed that the Aldabra brush warbler was extinct. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) officially listed it as extinct in 1994.
The main reasons for its disappearance were likely animals that humans brought to the island. These introduced animals included rats, cats, and goats. These animals might have eaten the birds or their eggs, or they might have destroyed the bird's home.
