We are often asked what the world’s rarest birds are. Not as easy a question to answer as you might think for a number of reasons. For example, some bird species thought extinct are sometimes rediscovered with no inkling of population size, and birds that inhabit very inaccessible places may be more common than sightings make us think. Decreased populations happen because of various factors – habitat destruction, climate change, poaching, and hunting among others. Some species that are in isolated places may never have had large populations.

However, based on current research and conservation efforts, here are some of the rarest birds in the world:

 

Africa:

Madagascar Pochard Aythya innotata – Considered by many to be the rarest bird in the world, there are only a handful of individuals remaining in the wild.

Madagascar serpent eagle Eutriorchis astur – This raptor from Madagascar is critically endangered, with only around 100 individuals remaining in the wild. 

Shoebill Balaeniceps rex – is a large, prehistoric-looking bird that is found in swamps and marshes in parts of eastern and central Africa. It is listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss and hunting.

African pitta Pitta angolensis – is a brightly coloured bird found in the rainforests of central and eastern Africa. It is rare and difficult to spot due to its secretive nature and habitat loss.

White-headed vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis  – The white-headed vulture is a large bird of prey found in savannas and woodlands in sub-Saharan Africa. It is critically endangered due to habitat loss, poisoning, and hunting.

Taita thrush Turdus helleri – is a small, endangered bird found only in the Taita Hills of Kenya. It is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation.

Long-billed tailorbird Artisornis moreaui –  The long-billed tailorbird is a small, elusive bird found only in the Usambara and Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania. It is endangered due to habitat loss and degradation.

  

Asia:

Cebu flowerpecker Dicaeum quadricolor – a tiny bird from the Philippines is critically endangered, with only a few dozen individuals remaining in the wild.

Jerdon’s Courser Rhinoptilus bitorquatus – This elegant bird from India is critically endangered, with only around 250 individuals remaining in the wild.

Forest owlet Heteroglaux blewitti – This owl from India is critically endangered, with only around 250 individuals remaining in the wild.

Sumatran ground-cuckoo Carpococcyx viridis – An elusive bird from Sumatra that is critically endangered, with only a few hundred individuals remaining in the wild.

Philippine eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi – This eagle is one of the rarest and largest raptors in the world, with a population of fewer than 500 individuals. It is also known as the monkey-eating eagle because it preys on monkeys and other small mammals.

Himalayan Quail Ophrysia superciliosa – This bird is endemic to the western Himalayas of India and is thought to be extinct. Reports of a bird with an identical description may mean it is only critically endangered with a population of fewer than 200 individuals.

Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris – It is a migratory bird that breeds in Siberia and winters in North Africa, but the last confirmed sighting was in 2019, and it is now considered critically endangered if not extinct.

Rufous-headed Robin Larvivora ruficeps – It is found only in a small area of forest in the Philippines, and there are estimated to be fewer than 250 individuals remaining.

 Spoon-billed sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus – is a small wader which breeds on the coasts of the Bering Sea and winters in Southeast Asia. It is critically endangered, with a current population of fewer than 2500 – probably fewer than 1000 – mature individuals. The main threats to its survival are habitat loss on its breeding grounds and loss of tidal flats through its migratory and wintering range.

 

Australasia:

Kakapo Strigops habroptila – This flightless parrot from New Zealand is critically endangered, with only around 200 individuals remaining in the wild. At one stage only 20 or so females remained and only their longevity and a breeding programme on a predator-free island has saved them from extinction. 

New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles savesi – This small bird is found only on the island of New Caledonia and was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1998. It is critically endangered with a probable population of fewer than 50 individuals.

 Regent Honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia – is a striking black and yellow bird that is critically endangered, with around300 individuals left in the wild.

Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis – The Night Parrot is one of Australia’s most elusive birds, and for a long time, it was thought to be extinct. However, in recent years, a small population has been rediscovered in remote parts of Western Australia and Queensland.

Plains-wanderer Pedionomus torquatus – is a small, quail-like bird that is the sole representative of its family It is scare anywhere and only found in a few scattered grassland habitats in eastern and southeastern Australia. It is classified as endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Gilbert’s Whistler Pachycephala inornata – Gilbert’s Whistler is a small bird that is only found in a few isolated patches of rainforest in northeastern Queensland. It is classified as vulnerable due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster – is a small parrot found only in Australia, with a population of fewer than 70 individuals in the wild, and this only after a captive breeding programme took it from the edge of extinction when only 17 individual birds were known.

 

Europe:

Most very scarce European birds have populations in Asia or Africa although a few are endangered across their range. The following have very small populations anywhere:

Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarious – This bird is critically endangered, with fewer than 200 breeding pairs left in the wild and decreasing numbers. It is found in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti – This bird is also critically endangered, with only around 1,600 individuals remaining in the wild. It is found in Spain and Portugal.

 

North America:

California Condor Gymnogyps californianus – This vulture from North America was once on the brink of extinction but has since made a slight recovery. However, it is still considered critically endangered, with only around 500 individuals remaining in the wild, which can be found in southern California, Arizona, and Utah.

Socorro Dove Zenaida graysoni – a dove from Mexico’s Socorro Island, it is critically endangered, with only around 100 individuals remaining in the wild.

Whooping Crane Grus Americana – With a population of only about 800 birds, the Whooping Crane is one of the rarest birds in North America. It can be found in Texas and Canada and has long been the subject of attempts to bring it back from the brink.

Kirtland’s Warbler Setophaga kirtlandii – With a population of only about 4,000 birds, the Kirtland’s Warbler is one of the rarest birds in the US. It can be found in Michigan and occasionally Wisconsin and winters in the Bahamas. Its population has been increasing in recent years, thanks to conservation efforts.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker Campephilus principalis – The Ivory-billed Woodpecker has not been seen in the US since the 1940s and is considered to be extinct, although there have been unconfirmed sightings in recent years.

Bachman’s Warbler Vermivora bachmanii – With a population of only about 100 birds, the Bachman’s Warbler is one of the rarest birds in the US. It has not been seen since 1988 and is considered to be critically endangered.

Hawaiian Crow Corvus hawaiiensis – With a population of only about 1,000 birds, the Hawaiian Crow is one of the rarest birds in the world. It is found only in Hawaii and is critically endangered.

Attwater’s Prairie Chicken Tympanuchus cupido attwateri – With a population of only about 50 birds, the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken is one of the rarest birds in the US. It can be found in Texas and is critically endangered.

 

South & Central America:

Spix’s Macaw Cyanopsitta spixii – This brilliant blue parrot from Brazil is critically endangered, there were only a few individuals left in captivity and none in the wild. It is now being captive bred and slowly re-introduced in its former strongholds.

Montserrat Oriole Icterus oberi – This bird is found only on the Caribbean island of Montserrat and was thought to be extinct after a volcanic eruption destroyed half of the forest on this small island, until it was rediscovered in 1997. 8 birds were taken into captivity and bred later to be introduced. It is still critically endangered with a population of around 500 individuals.

Blue-eyed Dround Dove Columbina cyanopis – This dove is found only in a small area of Brazil and is critically endangered with a population of fewer than 250 individuals.

Stresemann’s Bristlefront Merulaxis stresemanni –  This critically endangered bird is found only in a small region of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Its habitat is being destroyed by deforestation, and the species is also threatened by hunting and trapping.

Araripe Manakin Antilophia bokermanni –  This brightly coloured bird is found only in a small area of northeastern Brazil, where it inhabits dry forest and scrubland. The species is considered endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as poaching for the pet trade.

Hooded Visorbearer Augastes lumachella – This hummingbird is found only in a few isolated areas of Colombia, where it inhabits high-altitude cloud forests. The species is considered endangered due to habitat loss and degradation, as well as climate change.

Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis – This large parrot is found only in a few isolated areas of the Andes Mountains in Colombia and Ecuador. The species is considered endangered due to habitat loss, hunting, and capture for the pet trade.

Horned Guan Oreophasis derbianus – This bird is found in the cloud forests of Guatemala and Mexico. It is endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.

Bare-necked Umbrellabird Cephalopterus glabricollis – This bird is found in the lowland rainforests of Central America. It is rare due to habitat loss and hunting and its population decreasing.

Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja – This iconic bird is found in the rainforests of Central and South America. It is considered rare due to habitat loss and hunting.

Great Green Macaw Ara ambiguous – This bird is found in the rainforests of Central and South America. It is endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.