The World's Least Known Bird

An enigmatic little bird has eluded ornithologists for over a century. Not anymore

The large-billed reed warbler is known as "the world's least known bird," a title it received from BirdLife International in 2007.

The first specimen was discovered in India in 1867. The second time a single bird was discovered was more than a century later in Thailand in 2006.

But earlier this year, researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) found a breeding area in the Wakhan Corridor in the remote and harsh Pamir Mountains in war-ravaged Afghanistan.

They managed to capture, study and release almost 20 of the birds, using field observations, DNA sequencing and the first known audio recording of its call. These birds represent the first known breeding population of the species.

"Practically nothing is known about this species, so this discovery of the breeding area represents a flood of new information on the large-billed reed warbler," said Colin Poole, executive director of WCS’s Asia Program, in a January 10 press release.

"This new knowledge of the bird also indicates that the Wakhan Corridor still holds biological secrets and is critically important for future conservation efforts in Afghanistan."

According to the press release, "WCS is currently the only organization conducting ongoing scientific conservation studies in Afghanistan -- the first such efforts in over 30 years -- and has contributed to a number of conservation initiatives and activities in partnership with the Afghanistan Government, with support from USAID (United States Agency for International Development)." (The Wakhan Corridor also supports a wide array of mammal species, such as Marco Polo sheep, ibex, lynx and wolf.)

In being found, is the large-billed reed warbler losing its slippery touch?

Perhaps it can take some notes from another famously elusive animal that shares its habitat -- the snow leopard.

GET INVOLVED

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• Join the Great Backyard Bird Count, a 4-day "citizen-science" project taking place across the United States starting on February 12, 2010
• Check out these 15 ways to attract birds -- and birdsongs -- into your backyard
  
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• 25 Things You Can Do to Help the Birds in Your Backyard
  
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image: Wildlife Conservation Society