With thousands of birds spread out across the world, there are quite a few species you won’t ever get to see, even if you did go out looking for them. Some species remain hidden in the shadows due to their remote habitats or critically endangered status. If you see one of these birds, know how lucky you are.
1. Kākī
This bird is also known as the black stilt, a rare bird found exclusively in the wetlands of New Zealand. Less than 200 birds are left, and spotting them in the wild will be difficult, if not impossible. Conservation efforts are underway, including captive breeding and habitat restoration programs.
2. Kakapo
With over 200 known birds left, this “Owl Parrot” is quite endangered and extremely hard to spot in the wild. Native to New Zealand, this nocturnal, flightless parrot has distinctive features that make it alluring for bird enthusiasts. Because they cannot fly and have to roam around on land, they have become an easy target for prey, causing their possible extinction.
3. Spix’s Macaw
The chances of seeing this beautiful bird out in the wild are almost impossible as it is believed to be extinct. The Spix’s Macaw disappeared from its natural habitat in the early 2000s. Less than 180 are left in captivity, and they will hopefully be introduced back into the wild to save this population.
4. The Philippine Eagle
This is one of the world’s largest eagles, and there are only 400 pairs left in the wild. They are found only in the dense rainforests of the Philippines, and conservation efforts have started to restore these majestic birds to nature.
5. Liben Lark
This almost extinct bird can be found in the Ethiopian highlands; there are less than 250 left in the world. The Liben Lark is primarily found in the Liben Plain, a habitat severely threatened by agricultural expansion and overgrazing.
6. Stresemann’s Bristlefront
The chances of seeing one of these beautiful creatures are merely impossible as less than 50 known birds are left in the world. The Stresemann’s Bristlefront is critically endangered, and conservation efforts are underway to try and save something beautiful that might be lost.
7. Spoon-billed Sandpiper
The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is a small, critically endangered wader known for its distinctively shaped bill that resembles a spoon. This rare bird, once found in the coastal wetlands of East Asia, has less than 1000 adult species left in the world. The chances of seeing this magnificent bird in the wild might be rare, but hopefully, with the help of conservation, we will be able to see them in the wild again someday.
8. Honduran Emerald
Found in the forests of Honduras, the population of these birds has plummeted due to habitat destruction, particularly from deforestation and the encroachment of human settlements. This species is now endangered, with only a few birds left in the wild.
9. Wandering Albatross
These birds are well-known for their incredible wingspan of almost 12 feet. While they may not be critically endangered, they are rare as they spend most of their time over the ocean and only come to land for breeding. Around 26,000 birds are left in the world, which makes them endangered, too.
10. California Condor
As one of the largest flying birds in North America, the eagle has a wingspan that can stretch up to 9.5 feet and is quite rare to see in the wild. Thanks to intensive captive breeding and reintroduction programs, its numbers have slowly increased, but it remains critically endangered.
11. Yellow-eyed Penguin
The Yellow-eyed Penguin, native to New Zealand, is one of the world’s rarest and most endangered penguin species. Once found in large numbers along the southeastern coast of New Zealand, the Yellow-eyed Penguin has suffered a dramatic decline in population due to habitat destruction, introduced predators, and human disturbance. There are about 6,000 penguins left, which is not a lot, and having a sighting can be quite rare.
12. Forest Owlet
Found in the forests of central India, these owls live in tropical woodlands and are quite hard to spot in the wild. These little guys managed to evade human discovery for years, remaining mostly unknown to scientists until their rediscovery in 1997. There are believed to be only around 1000 owlets left in the wild, and conservation efforts are trying to increase those numbers.
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