Poisonous birds

There are several species of birds that are toxic. Instead of injecting venom like a snake, they produce toxins that remain in the feathers and skin, similar to the defenses of some Colombian poison darts. Two of the birds live in New Guinea, including pitohui and ifrita.

Pithui is actually the name of the genus, and there are six species in the genus: from

Pituhui kirhocephalus from

 Or change to Pitohui; from

Pithui dichrous from

 , or hooded Pito; from

Pithui incertus from

 , or white abdomen Pitohui; from

Pituhui ferrugineus, from

 Still rusty Pito; from

Pitohui cristatus from

 , or Crested Pitohui; and from

Pitohui nigrescens from

 , or black Pito will.

Pitohuis are omnivorous while eating insects and vegetation. The skin and feathers of these birds contain batrachotoxins. They are used to protect against parasites that are parasitic on skin and feathers, or for predators that prey on snakes, humans and raptors. In fact, Papua New Guinea calls these birds "garbage birds" because they are inedible.

Interestingly, the birds themselves do not produce toxins; instead, they come from beetles eaten by birds. Another poisonous bird, ifrita, also ate the same beetle, its toxin.

Ifrita has a length of 16.5 cm. It is carnivorous and eats insects that inhabit the trunks and branches. This bird is yellow-brown with a blue and black crown.

Western scientists have discovered its toxicity when trying to liberate birds from nets that catch different birds. John Dumbacher, when he was a Ph.D. candidate, was one of the first researchers to experience neurotoxins. The scientists liberated the birds from the net, but in the process they were cut off by the birds.喙 and paws. Toxins cause "numbness, burning and sneezing" when in contact.

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