Bird watcher

List of extinct bird species since 1500

About 216 species of birds have become extinct since 1500,[1] with increasing extinction rates due to human-caused influences such as direct harvest, habitat loss, the introduction of invasive species, and climate change.[2][3] Currently there are approximately 11,000 living species of birds, with over 1,480 at risk of extinction and 223 critically endangered.[4]

Island species in general, and flightless island species in particular, are most at risk. The situation is exemplified by Hawaii, where 30% of all known recently extinct bird taxa originally lived,[5] and Guam, which lost over 60% of its native bird taxa in the decades following the introduction of the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis).[6][7] The disproportionate number of extinctions in rails reflects the tendency of that family to lose the ability to fly when geographically isolated.[8] Even more rails became extinct before they could be described by scientists.[9][10]

The extinction dates given below are usually the dates of the last verified record (credible observation or specimen taken), which are approximations of the actual date of extinction. For many Pacific birds that became extinct shortly after European colonization, however, this leaves an uncertainty period of over 100 years, because the islands on which they lived were only rarely visited by scientists.[10] In certain unusual cases, it is possible to pinpoint the date of extinction to a specific year or even day; the San Benedicto rock wren represents an extreme example where its extinction could be timed with an accuracy of maybe half an hour coinciding with the eruption of Bárcena.[11]

The year 1500 serves as one common threshold of the “modern” era in which species are described scientifically, extinctions are monitored, and globalization has led to increased pressure on species.[1][3][12][13][14] Bird taxa which became extinct before 1500 are listed in List of Late Quaternary prehistoric bird species; prominent examples include the elephant birds (Aepyornis and Mullerornis) and the moa (Anomalopteryx, Euryapteryx, Pachyornis, Emeus, Dinornis and Megalapteryx).[15][16][17]

Extinct bird species

Palaeognathae

Ratites and tinamous

Apterygiformes

The kiwis of New Zealand

Neognathae

Anseriformes

Labrador duck

Ducks, geese and swans

  • Anatidae – ducks, geese and swans
    • Anatinae – ducks
      • Tadornini – shelducks and sheldgeese
      • Mergini – sea ducks
        • †Camptorhynchus – Labrador duck
          • Labrador duck, Camptorhynchus labradorius (northeastern North America, c. 1878)[26] Possibly a relict species. Causes of extinction are poorly known, but at least partly driven by hunting.[27]
        • Extinct species of extant genera
          • Mergus – typical mergansers
            • Auckland Island merganser or New Zealand merganser, Mergus australis (New Zealand and the Auckland Islands, Southwest Pacific, c. 1902)[28][29] Driven to extinction by predation by introduced mammals and hunting.[30]
      • Aythyini – diving ducks
        • Extinct species of extant genera
          • Chenonetta
            • Finsch’s duck, Chenonetta finschi (New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, c. 1760)[31][32]Causes of extinction included predation by the Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans) and overhunting.[32] One unconfirmed record from 1870.[33]
          • Rhodonessa – pink-headed duck
            • Pink-headed duck, Rhodonessa caryophyllacea (East India, Bangladesh, northern Myanmar, c. 1945) – sometimes included in the genus Netta, but this classification is not generally accepted.[34][35]Population declined sharply in the early 20th century due to habitat loss and hunting.[34] Officially classified as critically endangered due to the possibility of remaining individuals in remote portions of northern Myanmar, where unconfirmed reports have continued into the 21st century.[35]
          • Aythya – pochards
            • Réunion pochard, Aythya cf. innotata (Réunion, Mascarenes, 17th century)[36]An undescribed extinct species only known from two subfossils and two historical reports (1687, 1710) of non-Mascarene teal ducks on Réunion.[37]
      • Anatini – dabbling ducks
        • Extinct species of extant genera
          • Mareca – wigeons
          • Anas
            • Saint Paul Island duck, Anas sp. (Saint Paul Island, South Indian Ocean, c. 1800)Only known by a single report from 1793. May be synonymous with the Amsterdam wigeon or a distinct species or subspecies.[40]
            • Mascarene teal, Mauritius duck or Sauvier’s teal, Anas theodori (Mauritius and Réunion, Mascarenes, 1710)[36]Extinction caused by rapid habitat loss, hunting, and the introduction of invasive species.[41]
            • Mariana mallard or Oustalet’s duck, Anas oustaleti (Marianas, West Pacific, 1981)[42] –This bird’s taxonomy is debated; often considered either a distinct species, a subspecies of the still-existing mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) or the still-existing Pacific black duck (Anas superciliosa), a hybrid between these two species,[43] or sometimes a subspecies of the still-existing Indian spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha). Hunting and habitat loss were both responsible for its extinction. Captive breeding conservation efforts were unsuccessful.[42]

Galliformes

New Zealand quail

Quails and relatives
See also Bokaak “bustard” under Gruiformes below

  • Megapodiidae – megapodes
    • Extinct species of extant genera
      • Megapodius
        • Pile-builder megapode, Megapodius molistructor (New Caledonia, Melanesia, late 18th century?[44])
          • May have survived to the late 18th century, as evidenced by descriptions of the bird named “Tetrao australis” and later “Megapodius andersoni”.[44] Extinction likely driven by hunting.[45][46]
        • Viti Levu scrubfowl, Megapodius amissus (Viti Levu and possibly Kadavu, Fiji, 20th century?)
          • Only concretely known from subfossil bones dating 2,900 to 2,700 years before present. Likely driven to extinction by hunting.[47] There were unconfirmed sightings in the 20th century.[24][48]
        • Raoul Island scrubfowl, Megapodius sp. (Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, Southwest Pacific, 1876)
          • A hypothetical species said to have inhabited Raoul Island until the population was wiped out in a volcanic eruption.[49] It is not clear whether the bird represented a distinct taxon.[50]
    • Phasianidae – pheasants and allies
      • Extinct species of extant genera
        • Coturnix
          • New Zealand quail, Coturnix novaezelandiae (New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, 1875)[51] Causes of extinction involved introduced diseases, competition with invasive species, and agricultural burning.[45]
        • Ophrysia – Himalayan quail
          • Himalayan quail, Ophrysia superciliosa (North India, late 19th century)[52]Last confirmed sighting in 1876.[53] Officially critically endangered due to ongoing unconfirmed sightings and sparse survey coverage in its historical range. Reasons for its decline and possible extinction are not well known, but may include hunting and habitat destruction.[45][54]

Podicipediformes

Grebes

  • Extinct species of extant generaOfficially declared extinct in 2010, 25 years after the last official sighting in 1985.[55] Its extinction was primarily due to habitat destruction, the introduction of invasive species and hybridization with the still-existing little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis).[56]
    • Podilymbus
      • Atitlán grebe, Podilymbus gigas (Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, Central America, 1989) Its extinction was primarily due to habitat destruction, an earthquake-driven drop in the lake level in 1976, and hybridization with the still-existing pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps).[57][58]
    • Podiceps
      • Colombian grebe, Podiceps andinus (Wetlands of Bogotá, Colombia, South America, 1977) The population rapidly declined beginning in the 1950s primarily due to habitat destruction, the introduction of carnivorous rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), hunting, and water pollution. Extensive surveys in the 1980s failed to find any individuals.[59][60][61]

Charadriiformes

A mounted specimen of a great auk, the Natural History Museum, London, England

Waders, gulls and auks

  • Haematopodidae – oystercatchers
    • Extinct species of extant genera
      • Haematopus – oystercatchers
        • Canary Islands oystercatcher, Haematopus meadewaldoi (eastern Canary Islands, East Atlantic, c. 1940s)[62]Last confirmed sighting from 1913, reported extinct in 1940s.[62] Repeated surveys in the 20th century failed to locate any evidence of the species.[63] Extinction likely driven by overharvesting by humans of the intertidal zone, habitat destruction, and introduced predators.[63][64]
  • Charadriidae – plovers and lapwings
    • Extinct species of extant genera
      • Vanellus – lapwings
        • Javan lapwing, Vanellus macropterus (Java, Indonesia, mid-20th century)[65]Last recorded in 1940.[65] Officially classified as critically endangered due to incomplete survey coverage in suitable habitat and unconfirmed sightings continuing into the early 21st century.[65][66] Decline and possible extinction driven by hunting and habitat destruction.[66]
  • Scolopacidae – sandpipers and allies
    • Extinct species of extant genera
      • Numenius – curlews
        • Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (northern North America, late 20th century?)May still exist; officially classified as critically endangered, possibly extinct.
        • Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris (Western Siberia, early in the first decade of the 21st century?)A few birds were recorded in 2004 following several decades of increasing rarity. There was also an unconfirmed sighting in Albania in 2007. A survey to find out whether this bird still exists had been undertaken by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (BirdLife in the UK), which led to the bird being declared extinct by the organization in November 2024.[67] The bird was officially classified as extinct in October 2025.
      • Prosobonia – Polynesian sandpipers
        • Tahiti sandpiper, Prosobonia leucoptera (Tahiti, Society Islands, South Pacific, 19th century)
        • Moorea sandpiper, Prosobonia ellisi (Moorea, Society Islands, South Pacific, 19th century)Doubtfully distinct from P. leucoptera.
        • Christmas sandpiper, Prosobonia cancellata (Kiritimati Island, Kiribati, Central Pacific, 19th century?)Known only from an illustration and a description.
      • Coenocorypha – austral snipes
        • North Island snipe, Coenocorypha barrierensis (North Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, 1870s)
        • South Island snipe, Coenocorypha iredalei (South and Stewart Islands, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, 1964)
  • Alcidae – auks
    • †Pinguinus – great auk
      • Great auk, Pinguinus impennis (North Atlantic region, Europe and North America, 1852)

Gruiformes

Rails and cranes – probably paraphyletic

  • †Nesotrochis
    • Antillean cave rail or De Booy’s rail, Nesotrochis debooyi (Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, West Indies, prehistoric?)
    Known by pre-Columbian subfossil bones. Stories of an easy-to-catch bird named the carrao that were heard by Alexander Wetmore on Puerto Rico in 1912 may refer to this species.
  • †Diaphorapteryx
  • †Aphanapteryx
    • Red rail, Aphanapteryx bonasia (Mauritius, Mascarenes, c. 1700)
  • Extinct species of extant genera
      • Réunion rail or Dubois’ wood rail, Dryolimnnas augusti (Réunion, Mascarenes, late 17th century)
      • Rodrigues rail, Erythromachus leguati (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, mid-18th century)
      • Bar-winged rail, Gallirallus poecilopterus (Fiji, c. 1990)
      • Dieffenbach’s rail, Gallirallus dieffenbachii (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific, mid-19th century)Tahiti rail
      • Tahiti rail, Gallirallus pacificus (Tahiti, Society Islands, South Pacific, late 18th – 19th century)
      • Wake Island rail, Gallirallus wakensis (Wake Island, Micronesia, 1945)
      • Vavaʻu rail, Gallirallus vavauensis (Vavaʻu, Tonga, early 19th century?)This bird was previously known only from a drawing from the 1793 Alessandro Malaspina expedition, apparently depicting a species of Gallirallus. Subfossil bones belonging to this species were found in 2020.[68]
      • ʻEua rail, Gallirallus vekamatoluKnown from prehistoric subfossil bones found on ʻEua. It was probably a close relative of the Vavaʻu rail.
      • Tongatapu rail, Gallirallus hypoleucus (Tongatapu, Tonga, late 18th or 19th century)
      • Sharpe’s rail, Gallirallus sharpei (Indonesia?)Only known from a type specimen, but scientists speculate that it originated from Indonesia. Possibly could be a color morph of the still-existing buff-banded rail (Gallirallus philippensis).
      • Hiva Oa rail, Gallirallus sp. (Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, South Pacific)
      • Norfolk Island rail, Gallirallus sp. (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, early 17th century?)May be the bird shown on a bad watercolor illustration made about 1800.
      • Chatham Islands rail, Gallirallus modestus (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific, c. 1900)
      • New Caledonian rail, Gallirallus lafresnanayanus (New Caledonia, Melanesia, c. 1900?)Officially classified as critically endangered, the last records were in 1984 and it seems as if all of the available habitat has now been overrun by feral pigs and feral dogs, which preyed on this bird.
      • Ascension crake, Mundia elpenor (Ascension Island, South Atlantic, late 17th century) – formerly Atlantisia
      • Saint Helena crake, Zapornia astrictocarpus (Saint Helena, South Atlantic, early 16th century)
      • Laysan railLaysan rail, Zapornia palmeri (Laysan, Hawaiian Islands, 1944)
      • Hawaiian railHawaiian rail, Zapornia sandwichensis (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands, c. 1890)
      • Kosrae crake, Zapornia monasa (Kosrae, Caroline Islands, West Pacific, c. mid-to-late 19th century)
      • Tahiti crake, Zapornia nigra (Tahiti, Society Islands, South Pacific, c. 1800)Known only from paintings and descriptions; its taxonomic status is uncertain, as the material is often believed to refer to the still-existing spotless crake (Zapornia tabuensis).
      • Saint Helena rail, Aphanocrex podarces (Saint Helena, South Atlantic, 16th century) – formerly Atlantisia
      • White swamphen, Porphyrio albus (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, early 19th century)White swamphen
      • Réunion swamphen or oiseau bleu, Porphyrio coerulescens (Réunion, Mascarenes, 18th century)Known only from descriptions. The former existence of a Porphyrio on Réunion is fairly certain, but it has not been proven to date.
      • Marquesas swamphen, Porphyrio paepae (Hiva Oa and Tahuata, Marquesas Islands, South Pacific)May have survived to c. 1900. In the lower right hand corner of Paul Gauguin‘s 1902 painting Le Sorcier d’Hiva Oa ou le Marquisien à la cape rouge, there is a bird which resembles native descriptions of P. paepae.
      • North Island takahē, Porphyrio mantelli (North Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, late 19th century)Known from subfossil bones found in New Zealand’s North Island; may have survived to 1894 or later.
      • New Caledonian gallinule, Porphyrio kukwiedei (New Caledonia, Melanesia)May have survived into historic times. The native name nʻdino is thought to refer to this species.
      • Samoan woodhen, Gallinula pacifica (Savaiʻi, Samoa, 1907?)Probably better placed in the genus Pareudiastes if that genus is considered valid. Unconfirmed reports from the late 20th century suggest it still exists in small numbers and, therefore, it is officially classified as critically endangered.
      • Makira woodhen, Gallinula silvestris (Makira, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, mid-20th century?)Only known from a single specimen, this rail is probably better placed in its own genus, Edithornis. Unconfirmed recent records suggest it still exists and therefore it is officially classified as critically endangered.
      • Tristan moorhen, Gallinula nesiotis (Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic, late 19th century)
      • Mascarene coot, Fulica newtonii (Mauritius and Réunion, Mascarenes, c. 1700)
      • Fernando de Noronha rail, Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Fernando de Noronha Island, West Atlantic, 16th century?)A distinct species of rail inhabited Fernando de Noronha Island, but it has not been formally described yet. It probably still existed at the time of the first Western contact.
      • Tahitian “goose”, Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Tahiti, Society Islands, South Pacific, late 18th century?)
    Early travelers to Tahiti reported a “goose” that was found in the mountains. Altogether, a species of rail in the genus Porphyrio seems to be the most likely possibility.
      • Bokaak “bustard”, Rallidae? gen. et sp. indet. “Bokaak”An unidentified terrestrial bird is mentioned in an early report from Bokaak in the Marshall Islands. It was described as a “bustard” and may have actually been a rail or a megapode. In the former case, it may have been a vagrant of a still-existing species; in any case, no bird that could be described as “bustard-like” is found on Bokaak today.[69]
      • Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. “Amsterdam Island”Unknown rail from Amsterdam Island; one specimen was found, but it was not recovered. Extinct by 1800, it may have been a vagrant of a still-existing species.

Procellariiformes

Albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, and storm petrels

Sphenisciformes

Penguins

  • Extinct species of extant genera
    • Eudyptes – crested penguins
      • Chatham penguin, Eudyptes warhami (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific, around 1871 or 1872?)Only known from subfossil bones, but a crested penguin kept in captivity sometime around 1871 or 1872 may refer to this species.

Suliformes

Boobies and related birds

  • Sulidae – gannets and boobies
    • Mascarene booby, Papasula sp. (Mauritius and Rodrigues, Mascarenes, mid-19th century)
      • An undescribed booby species that was formerly considered a population of the still-existing Abbott’s booby (Papasula abbotti). Known physically only from subfossil bones, but is likely the bird referred to as a boeuf by early settlers; the boeuf was last recorded on Rodrigues in 1832 and likely went extinct following the deforestation of the island.
  • Phalacrocoracidae – cormorants and shags

Pelecaniformes

Pelicans and related birds

  • Threskiornithidae – ibises and spoonbills
    • Extinct species of extant genera
      • Threskiornis
        • Réunion ibis, Threskiornis solitarius (Réunion, Mascarenes, early 18th century)This species was the basis for the “Réunion solitaire” or “white dodo” (“Raphus solitarius“), a supposed relative of the dodo and the Rodrigues solitaire (both see below). Given the fact that ibis (but no dodo-like) bones were found on Réunion and that old descriptions match a flightless African sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) quite well, the “Réunion solitaire” hypothesis has been refuted.
  • Ardeidae – herons, egrets, and bitterns, possibly paraphyletic
    • Botaurinae – bitterns
      • Extinct species of extant genera
      • New Zealand bittern, Botaurus novaezelandiae (New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, late 19th century)Long considered to be vagrant individuals of the still-existing black-backed bittern (Botaurus dubius); bones recovered from Holocene deposits indicate that this was indeed a distinct taxon, but it may not be a distinct species.
    • Ardeinae – herons and egrets

Columbiformes

Male passenger pigeon

Pigeons, doves and dodos
For the “Réunion solitaire”, see Réunion ibis above.

  • †Ectopistes – passenger pigeonThe passenger pigeon was once among the most abundant wild bird species in the world, with a single flock numbering up to 2.2 billion birds. It was hunted close to extinction for food and sport in the late 19th century. The last individual, a mateless female named Martha after Martha Washington, died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.
  • †Dysmoropelia – Saint Helena dove
    • Saint Helena dove, Dysmoropelia dekarchiskos (Saint Helena, South Atlantic, 16th century?)
    Known only from Late Pleistocene bones, but may have persisted until the 16th century.
  • †Raphus – dodo
    • Dodo, Raphus cucullatus (Mauritius, Mascarenes, late 17th century)
    Called Didus ineptus by Linnaeus. A 1-meter-high flightless bird found on Mauritius. Its forest habitat was destroyed when Dutch settlers moved to the island and the dodo’s nests and eggs were destroyed by the dogs, cats, goats, pigs, rats and crab-eating macaques (Macaca fascicularis) that the Dutch brought with them. The last claimed sighting was in 1662, only 44 years after the arrival of the new predators in 1638.
  • †Pezophaps – Rodrigues solitaire
  • Extinct species of extant genera
    • Bonin wood pigeon, Columba versicolor (Nakodo-jima and Chichi-jima, Ogasawara Islands, Japan, c. 1890)
    • Ryukyu wood pigeon, Columba jouyi (Okinawa and Daito Islands, Japan, late 1930s)
    • Rodrigues pigeon, Nesoenas rodericanus (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, before 1690?)Formerly in Streptopelia. Possibly a subspecies of the still-existing Malagasy turtle dove (Nesoenas picturatus), this seems to be the bird observed by François Leguat. Introduced rats may have caused it to become extinct in the late 17th century.
    • Spotted green pigeon, Caloenas maculata (either South Pacific or Indian Ocean islands, 1820s)Also known as the Liverpool pigeon, the only known specimen has been in Liverpool’s World Museum since 1851, and was probably collected on a Pacific island for Edward Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby. It has been suggested that this bird came from Tahiti based on native lore about a somewhat similar extinct bird called the titi, but this has not yet been verified.
    • Sulu bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba menagei (Tawi-Tawi, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, late 1990s?)Officially classified as critically endangered. Only known from two specimens taken in 1891. There have been a number of unconfirmed reports from all over the Sulu Archipelago in 1995; however, these reports stated that the bird had suddenly undergone a massive decline and, by now, habitat destruction is almost complete. If it is not extinct, this species is certainly very rare, but the ongoing Moro civil war prevents any comprehensive surveys.
    • Norfolk ground dove, Pampusana norfolkensis (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, c. 1800)
    • Tanna ground dove, Pampusana ferruginea (Tanna, Vanuatu, late 18th or 19th century)Only known from descriptions of two now-lost specimens.
    • Thick-billed ground dove, Pampusana salamonis (Makira and Ramos, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, mid-20th century?)Last recorded in 1927, only two specimens exist. Declared extinct in 2005.
    • Choiseul crested pigeonChoiseul pigeon, Microgoura meeki (Choiseul, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, early 20th century)
    • Red-moustached fruit dove, Ptilinopus mercierii (Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, South Pacific, 1922)Two subspecies: the little-known nominate subspecies, the Nuku Hiva red-moustached fruit dove, P. m. mercierii (Nuku Hiva, extinct mid- to late 19th century) and the Hiva Oa red-moustached fruit dove, P. m. tristrami (Hiva Oa, extinct 1922).
    • Negros fruit dove, Ptilinopus arcanus (Negros, Philippines, late 20th century?)Known only from one specimen taken at the only documented sighting in 1953; the validity of this species has been questioned, but no good alternative to distinct species status has been proposed. Officially classified as critically endangered, it may still exist on Panay, but no survey has located it. One possible record in 2002 does not seem to have been repeated since then.
    • Mauritius blue pigeonMauritius blue pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissima (Mauritius, Mascarenes, c. 1830s)
    • Réunion blue pigeon, Alectroenas sp. (Réunion, Mascarenes, 1619)
    • Providence blue pigeon, Alectroenas sp. (Farquhar Group, Seychelles, 19th century)Only known from early reports; possibly a subspecies of either the still-existing Comoro blue pigeon (Alectroenas sganzini) or the still-existing Seychelles blue pigeon (Alectroenas pulcherrimus).
    • Mauritian turtle dove, Nesoenas cicur (Mauritius, Mascarenes, 1730s)Similar to the Malagasy turtle dove but more terrestrial, with more robust legs and smaller wings. Disappeared by 1730 due to hunting, predation by introduced mammals, and deforestation.
    • Mauritian wood pigeon, Columba thiriouxi (Mauritius, Mascarenes, 1730s)Described from subfossil remains, it is believed to have become extinct by 1730 due to hunting, predation by the introduced black rat (Rattus rattus), and deforestation. The species has been questioned due to the material being scarce and not completely distinguishable from rock doves (Columba livia) that were introduced to the island in 1639. However, early historical accounts mention the existence of pigeons that were caught with ease.

Cuculiformes

Cuckoos

  • †Nannococcyx – Saint Helena cuckoo
  • Extinct species of extant genera
    • Coua – couas, a genus endemic to Madagascar

Cathartiformes

New World vultures

  • “Painted vulture”, Sarcoramphus sacra (Florida, North America, late 18th century?)
    • A bird supposedly similar in appearance to the still-existing king vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) identified by William Bartram on his travels in the 1770s. Skeptics have stated that it is likely based on a misidentification of the crested caracara (Caracara plancus), although evidence has increasingly shifted towards it being a valid taxon that once existed, either as a distinct species in its own right or as a subspecies of the king vulture, based on an independent illustration of a nearly identical bird made several decades earlier by Eleazar Albin. See the King vulture article for discussion.

Strigiformes

Laughing owl

True owls, barn owls and bay owls

Strigidae – true owls

  • Pernambuco pygmy owl, Glaucidium mooreorum (Pernambuco, Brazil, South America, 2001?)[70]Officially classified as critically endangered, but it may still exist. A 2018 BirdLife study citing extinction patterns recommended reclassifying this species as possibly extinct.
  • Réunion scops owl, Otus grucheti (Réunion, Mascarenes, late 17th century?)
  • Mauritius scops owl, Otus sauzieri (Mauritius, Mascarenes, c. 1850)
  • Rodrigues scops owl, Otus murivorus (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, mid-18th century)The preceding three species were variously placed in the genera Bubo, Athene, “Scops” (=Otus), Strix and Tyto and even in their own genus, Mascarenotus, before their true affinity was realized.
  • Siau scops owl, Otus siaoensis (Siau Island, Indonesia, 20th century?)Only known from the holotype collected in 1866. It may still exist, as there are ongoing rumors of scops owls at Siau. Possibly a subspecies of either the still-existing Sulawesi scops owl (Otus manadensis) or the still-existing Moluccan scops owl (Otus magicus).
  • New Caledonian boobook, Ninox cf. novaeseelandiae (New Caledonia, Melanesia)Known only from prehistoric bones, but it may still exist.
  • Laughing owl, Ninox albifacies (New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, 1914?)Two subspecies: the nominate subspecies, the South Island laughing owl, N. a. albifacies (South Island and Stewart Island, extinct 1914?) and the North Island laughing owl, N. a. rufifacies (North Island, extinct c. 1870s?); circumstantial evidence suggests that small remnants survived until either the early or the mid-20th century.

Tytonidae – barn owls and bay owls

  • Puerto Rican barn owl, Tyto cavatica (Puerto Rico, West Indies, early 20th century?)Known from prehistoric bones found in caves on Puerto Rico; it may have still existed up to 1912, given reports of the presence of cave-nesting owls on the island up to that year. Likely a subspecies of, or synonymous with, the still-existing ashy-faced owl (Tyto glaucops).

Caprimulgiformes

Caprimulgidae – nightjars and allies

  • Jamaican poorwill, Siphonorhis americana (Jamaica, West Indies, late 19th century?)Reports of unidentifiable nightjars from the 1980s in habitat appropriate for this cryptic species suggest that it may still exist. Research into this possibility is currently underway; pending further information, it is officially classified as critically endangered, possibly extinct.
  • Cuban pauraque, Siphonorhis daiquiri (Cuba, West Indies, prehistoric?)Described from subfossil bones in 1985. There are persistent rumors that this bird, which was never seen alive by scientists, may still exist. Compare the still-existing Puerto Rican nightjar (Antrostomus noctitherus) and the preceding species.
  • New Caledonian nightjar, Eurostopodus exsul (New Caledonia, Melanesia, mid-20th century)This species was sighted only once in 1939; due to its cryptic habits, it may still exist, but this is now considered to be unlikely.

Aegotheliformes

Aegothelidae – owlet-nightjars

  • New Caledonian owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles savesi (New Caledonia, Melanesia, late 1990s)Not to be confused with the New Caledonian nightjar (see above). The type specimen was collected after the bird flew into a bedroom in the village of Tonghoué. This large owlet-nightjar is only known from two specimens taken in 1880 and 1915, two other confirmed sightings and two other partly disputed sightings and one unconfirmed debated sighting. The most recent report is from a 1998 expedition which saw a large nightjar foraging for insects at dusk in the Rivière Ni Valley.

Apodiformes

Swifts and hummingbirds

  • Letitia’s thorntail, Discosura letitiae (Bolivia, South America?)Known only from three trade specimens of unknown origin. It may still exist.
  • Brace’s emerald, Riccordia bracei (New Providence, Bahamas, West Indies, late 19th century)
  • Gould’s emerald, Riccordia elegans (Jamaica or northern Bahamas, West Indies, late 19th century)
  • Turquoise-throated puffleg, Eriocnemis godini (Ecuador, South America, 20th century?)Officially classified as critically endangered, possibly extinct. Known only from six pre-1900 specimens, the habitat where it occurred has been destroyed. However, the bird’s distribution remains unresolved.
  • Guanacaste hummingbird, Saucerottia alfaroana (Miravalles Volcano, Costa Rica, Central America, 1895?)A possibly extinct species of hummingbird known only from a holotype collected in 1895 at the Miravalles Volcano in Costa Rica.

Coraciiformes

Kingfishers and related birds

  • Saint Helena hoopoe, Upupa antaois (Saint Helena, South Atlantic, early 16th century)
  • Guam kingfisher, Todirhmphus cinnamominus (Guam, Marianas, West Pacific, 1986)This species became extinct in the wild in 1986 when 29 birds were taken for a captive breeding program, which is still ongoing. Its decline was caused by predation by introduced brown tree snakes.

Piciformes

Woodpeckers and related birds

Falconiformes

Falcons

Psittaciformes

Parrots

A mounted specimen of a Carolina parakeet, the Museum Wiesbaden, Germany
  • Strigopidae – New Zealand parrots
    • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Psittacidae – parrots, parakeets, and lorikeets
    • Raiatea parakeet, Cyanoramphus ulietanus (Raiatea, Society Islands, South Pacific, late 18th century)
    • Black-fronted parakeet, Cyanoramphus zealandicus (Tahiti, Society Islands, South Pacific, c. 1850)
    • Lord Howe parakeet, Cyanorhamphus subflavescens (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, c. 1870)
    • Paradise parrot, Psephotellus pulcherrimus (Rockhampton area, Australia, late 1920s)
    • Oceanic eclectus, Eclectus infectus (Tonga, Vanuatu, possibly Fiji, 18th or 19th century?)Known from subfossil bones found on Tonga, Vanuatu, and possibly Fiji, may have survived until the 18th century or even much later that that: a bird which seems to be a male Eclectus parrot was drawn in a report on the Tongan island of Vavaʻu by the Malaspina expedition. Also, a 19th-century Tongan name ʻāʻā (“parrot”) for “a beautiful bird found only at ʻEua” is attested (see here[71] under “kākā”). This seems to refer to either E. infectus, which in Tonga is only known from Vavaʻu and ʻEua, or the extirpated population of the still-existing collared lory (Vini solitaria), which also occurred there. It is possible, but unlikely, that this species survived on ʻEua until the 19th century.
    • New Caledonian lorikeet, Vini diadema (New Caledonia, Melanesia, mid-20th century?)Officially classified as critically endangered, there have been no reports of this species since the mid-20th century. It is, however, small and inconspicuous and is likely to have been overlooked.
    • Seychelles parakeetSeychelles parakeet, Psittacula wardi (Seychelles, West Indian Ocean, 1883)
    • Newton’s parakeet, Psittacula exsul (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, c. 1875)
    • Mascarene grey parakeet, Psittacula bensoni (Mauritius, Mascarenes, possibly Réunion, Mascarenes as Psittacula cf. bensoni, 1760s).Formerly known as the Mauritius grey parrot (Lophopsittacus bensoni). Known from a 1602 sketch by Captain Willem van Westzanen and by subfossil bones described by David Thomas Holyoak in 1973. It may have survived into the mid-18th century.
    • Mascarene parrot, Mascarinus mascarinus (Réunion and possibly Mauritius, Mascarenes, 1834?)The last known individual was a captive bird which was alive before 1834.
    • Broad-billed parrot, Lophopsittacus mauritianus (Mauritius, Mascarenes, 1680?)It may have survived into the late 18th century.
    • Rodrigues parrot, Necropsittacus rodericanus (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, late 18th century)The species N. francicus is fictional, N. borbonicus is most likely so.
    • Glaucous macaw, Anodorhynchus glaucus (northern Argentina, South America, early 20th century)Officially classified as critically endangered due to persistent rumors of wild birds, but probably extinct.
    • Cuban macaw, Ara tricolor (Cuba, West Indies, late 19th century)A number of related macaw species have been described from the West Indies, but are not based on good evidence. Several prehistoric forms are now known to have existed in the region, however.
    • Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis (southeastern North America, c. 1930?)Although the date of the last captive bird’s death in the Cincinnati Zoo, 1918, is generally given as this species’ date of extinction, there are convincing reports of some wild populations persisting until later. Includes two subspecies, C. c. carolinensis (Carolina parakeet, east and south of the Appalachian Mountains – extinct either 1918 or c. 1930) and C. c. ludovicianus (Louisiana parakeet, west of the Appalachian Mountains – extinct c. 1912).
    • Guadeloupe parakeet, Psittacara labati (Guadeloupe, West Indies, late 18th century)Only known from descriptions; the former existence of this bird is likely both for biogeographic reasons and because details about it as described cannot be referred to any known species.
    • Puerto Rican parakeet, Psittacara maugei (Mona Island and possibly Puerto Rico, West Indies, 1890s)Formerly considered to be a weakly differentiated subspecies of the still-existing Hispaniolan parakeet (Psittacara chloropterus).
    • Martinique amazon, Amazona martinica (Martinique, West Indies, 1722)
    • Guadeloupe amazon, Amazona violacea (Guadeloupe, West Indies, late 18th century)These two extinct amazons were originally described from travelers’ descriptions. Their existence is still controversial.

Passeriformes

Perching birds

Lyall’s wren, a victim of feral cats

Acanthisittidae – New Zealand wrens

  • Lyall’s wren, Traversia lyalli (New Zealand and Stephens Island, Southwest Pacific, 1895?)A flightless species that was famously (but erroneously) claimed to have become extinct due to predation by a single lighthouse keeper’s cat named “Tibbles”. Actually, a population of feral cats that became established on the island was entirely to blame for its extinction.
  • Bushwren, Xenicus longipes (New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, 1972)Three subspecies: the North Island bushwren, X. l. stokesi (North Island, Southwest Pacific, extinct 1955); the nominate subspecies the South Island bushwren, X. l. longipes (South Island, Southwest Pacific, extinct 1968) and the Stewart Island bushwren, X. l. variabilis (Stewart Island, Southwest Pacific, extinct 1972).

Tyrannidae – tyrant flycatchers

  • San Cristóbal flycatcher, Pyrocephalus dubius (San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos Islands, late 20th century)Described as extremely rare by David W. Steadman in the 1980s and not found despite a six-month survey in 1998.

Furnariidae – ovenbirds

Mohoidae – Hawaiian honeyeaters; family established in 2008, previously in Meliphagidae (see below)

Meliphagidae – honeyeaters and Australian chats

  • Chatham Islands bellbird, Anthornis melanocephala (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific, c. 1910)Sometimes regarded as a subspecies of the still-existing New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanera). Unconfirmed records exist from the early to the mid-1950s.
  • The identity of “Strigiceps leucopogon“ (an invalid name)[45] described by Lesson in 1840 is unclear. Apart from the holotype supposedly from “New Holland“, a second specimen from the “Himalaya” either may have existed or may still exist. Lesson tentatively allied it to the Meliphagidae, and Rothschild felt reminded of the kioea (see above).

Acanthizidae – Australasian warblers, scrubwrens, thornbills, and gerygones

  • Lord Howe gerygone, Gerygone insularis (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, c. 1930)

Pachycephalidae – whistlers, shrike-thrushes, pitohuis and allies

  • Mangarevan whistler, ?Pachycephala gambierana (Mangareva, Gambier Islands, South Pacific, late 19th century?)Tentatively placed here. A mysterious bird of which no specimens exist today. It was initially described as a shrike, then classified as an Eopsalteria “robin” and may actually be an Acrocephalus warbler.

Monarchidae – monarch flycatchers and paradise flycatchers

  • Maupiti monarch, Pomarea pomarea (Maupiti, Society Islands, South Pacific, mid-19th century)
  • Eiao monarch, Pomarea fluxa (Eiao, Marquesas Islands, South Pacific, late 1970s)Previously considered a subspecies of the still-existing Iphis monarch (Pomarea iphis), this is an early offspring of the Marquesan stock.
  • Nuku Hiva monarch, Pomarea nukuhivae (Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands, South Pacific, mid- to late 20th century)Previously considered a subspecies of the still-existing Marquesan monarch (Pomarea mendozae), this is another early offspring of the Marquesan stock.
  • Ua Pou monarch, Pomarea mira (Ua Pou, Marquesas Islands, South Pacific, c. 1986)Also previously considered a subspecies of the Marquesan monarch, this was a distinct species most closely related to that bird and the Fatu Hiva monarch (Pomarea whitneyi).
  • Guam flycatcher, Myiagra freycineti (Guam, Marianas, West Pacific, 1983)Possibly a subspecies of the still-existing oceanic flycatcher (Myiagra oceanica).

Oriolidae – Old World orioles and allies

  • North Island piopio, Turnagra tanagra (North Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, c. 1970?)Not reliably recorded since about 1900.
  • South Island piopio, Turnagra capensis (South Island and Stephens Island, Southwest Pacific, 1960s?)Two subspecies, T. c. minor from Stephens Island (extinct c. 1897) and the nominate subspecies T. c. capensis from the South Island mainland (last specimen taken in 1902, last unconfirmed record in 1963)

Corvidae – crows, ravens, jays and magpies

Callaeidae – New Zealand wattlebirds

Huia, male (front) and female (back)
  • Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris (North Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, early 20th century)
  • South Island kōkako, Callaeas cinereus (South Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific, 1960s?)This species is usually considered to be extinct, as it has not been reliably recorded since 1967. However, recent reports from Fiordland suggest that it may still exist.

Hirundinidae – swallows and martins

  • White-eyed river martin, Pseudochelidon sirintarae (Thailand, Southeast Asia, late 1980s?)Officially classified as critically endangered, this enigmatic species is only known from migrating birds and it was last seen in 1986 at its former roost site. Recent unconfirmed reports suggest that it may still exist in Cambodia.
  • Red Sea cliff swallow, Petrochelidon perdita (Red Sea area, Sudan, Northwest Africa, late 20th century?)Known from a single specimen found in 1984; this enigmatic swallow may still exist, but the lack of recent records is puzzling. It is also alternatively placed in the genus Hirundo.

Acrocephalidae – acrocephalid warblers or reed warblers, brush warblers, swamp warblers, marsh-warblers, and tree-warblers

  • Nightingale reed warbler, Acrocephalus luscinius (Guam, Marianas, West Pacific, c. 1970s)
  • Pagan reed warbler, Acrocephalus yamashinae (Pagan, Marianas, West Pacific, 1970s)Previously considered a subspecies of the nightingale reed warbler.
  • Aguiguan reed warbler, Acrocephalus nijoi (Aguiguan, Marianas, West Pacific, c. 1997)Also previously considered a subspecies of the nightingale reed warbler.
  • Mangareva reed warbler, Acrocephalus astrolabii (Marianas?, West Pacific, mid-19th century?)Known only from two specimens found on Mangareva Island.
  • Garrett’s reed warbler, Acrocephalus musae (Raiatea and Huahine, Society Islands, South Pacific, 19th century?)Two subspecies, A. m. garretti from Huahine and A. m. musae from Raiatea. Previously considered a subspecies of the still-existing Tahiti reed warbler (Acrocephalus caffer).
  • Moorea reed warbler, Acrocephalus longirostris (Moorea, Society Islands, South Pacific, 1980s?)The last reliable sighting of this bird was in 1981. A survey in 1986 / 1987 was unsuccessful in finding it. A photograph of a warbler from Moorea in 1998 or 1999 taken by Philippe Bacchet remains uncertain, as do reports from 2003 and 2010. Also previously considered a subspecies of the Tahiti reed warbler.
  • Aldabra brush warbler, Nesillas aldabrana (Aldabra, c. 1984)

Muscicapidae – Old World flycatchers and chats

  • Rück’s blue flycatcher, Cyornis ruckii (either Malaysia or Indochina, 20th century?)An enigmatic species known only from two or four possibly migrant specimens, last recorded in 1918. It may still exist in northeastern Indochina. Possibly a subspecies of the still-existing Hainan blue flycatcher (Cyornis hainanus).

Locustellidae – megalurid warblers or grass warblers

  • Chatham Islands fernbird, Poodytes rufescens (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific, c. 1900)Often placed in the genus Megalurus, but this is based on an incomplete review of the evidence.

Cisticolidae – cisticolid warblers

  • Tana River cisticola, Cisticola restrictus (Kenya, East Africa, 1970s?)A mysterious species found in the Tana River Basin in small numbers at various dates but not seen since 1972. It is probably invalid; if so, it may be based on aberrant or hybrid specimens. An unconfirmed sighting was apparently reported in 2007 at the Tana River Delta.

Zosteropidae – white-eyes; probably belong in Timaliidae (see below)

  • Marianne white-eye, Zosterops semiflavus (Marianne Island, Seychelles, late 19th century)
  • Robust white-eye, Zosterops strenuus (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, c. 1918)
  • White-chested white-eye, Zosterops albogularis (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, between 2006 and 2010)

Pycnonotidae – bulbuls

  • Rodrigues bulbul, Hypsipetes cowlesi (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, extinction date unknown, 17th century or 18th century might be possible)Known only from subfossil bones.

Sylviida incertae sedis

  • Rodrigues “babbler” (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, 17th century?)Known only from subfossil bones. Provisionally assigned to Timaliidae (see below), but its placement in this family is highly doubtful.

Sturnidae – starlings

Hoopoe starling
  • Kosrae starling, Aplonis corvina (Kosrae, Caroline Islands, West Pacific, mid-19th century)
  • Mauke starling, Aplonis mavornata (Mauke, Cook Islands, South Pacific, mid-19th century)
  • Tasman starling, Aplonis fusca (Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, c. 1923)Two subspecies, the nominate subspecies A. f. fusca – Norfolk starling (extinct c. 1923) and A. fusca hulliana – Lord Howe starling (extinct c. 1919).
  • Pohnpei starling, Aplonis pelzelni (Pohnpei, Micronesia, c. 2000)Only one reliable record since 1956, in 1995, leaves the species’ survival seriously in doubt.
  • Raiatea starling, Aplonis? ulietensis (Raiatea, Society Islands, South Pacific, between 1774 and 1850)Formerly called the bay thrush (Turdus ulietensis); a mysterious bird from Raiatea now only known from a painting and some descriptions of a (now lost) specimen. Its taxonomic position is thus unresolvable at present although, for biogeographic reasons and because of the surviving description, it has been suggested to have been a honeyeater. However, with the discovery of fossils of the prehistorically extinct Huahine starling (Aplonis diluvialis) on neighboring Huahine, it seems likely that this bird also belonged to this genus.
  • Hoopoe starling, Fregilupus varius (Réunion, Mascarenes, 1850s)Tentatively assigned to Sturnidae.
  • Rodrigues starling, Necropsar rodericanus (Rodrigues, Mascarenes, mid-18th century?)Tentatively assigned to Sturnidae. The bird that was variously described as Necropsar leguati or Orphanopsar leguati and was considered to be identical with N. rodericanus (which itself is known only from subfossil bones) was found to be based on a misidentified albino specimen of the still-existing grey trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis).

Turdidae – thrushes and allies

  • Grand Cayman thrush, Turdus ravidus (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, West Indies, late 1940s)
  • Bonin thrush, Zoothera terrestris (Chichi-jima, Ogasawara Islands, Japan, c. 1830s)
Kāmaʻo
  • ʻĀmaui, Myadestes woahensis (Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, 1850s)
  • Olomaʻo, Myadestes lanaiensis (Hawaiian Islands, 1980s?)Officially classified as critically endangered because a possible location on Molokaʻi remains unsurveyed. Two subspecies are known from Lanaʻi (the nominate subspecies M. l. lanaiensis, extinct early 1930s) and Molokaʻi (M. l. rutha, extinct 1980s?) and there may be a possible third subspecies from Maui (extinct before the late 19th century).
  • Kāmaʻo, Myadestes myadestinus (Kauaiʻi, Hawaiian Islands, 1990s)

Mimidae – mockingbirds and thrashers

  • Cozumel thrasher, Toxostoma guttatum (Cozumel, West Indies, early in the first decade of the 21st century?)It is still unknown whether the tiny population rediscovered in 2004 survived Hurricanes Emily and Wilma in 2005. There have also been unconfirmed records in April 2006 and October and December 2007.

Icteridae – New World blackbirds and allies

Parulidae – New World warblers

Ploceidae – weavers

  • Réunion fody, Foudia delloni (Réunion, Mascarenes, c. 1672)Formerly Foudia bruante; the latter scientific name may actually be a color morph of the still-existing red fody (Foudia madagascariensis).

Cardinalidae – cardinals and allies

  • “Townsend’s dickcissel“, Spiza townsendi (northeastern United States, c. 1833)Either an extinct species, a variant of the still-existing dickcissel (Spiza americana), or a hybrid.

Fringillidae – true finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers

  • Bonin grosbeak, Carpodacus ferreorostris (Chichi-jima, Ogasawara Islands, Japan, 1830s)
  • ʻŌʻū, Psittirostra psittacea (Hawaiian Islands, c. 2000?)
  • Kona grosbeak, Chloridops kona (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands, 1894)
  • Lanaʻi hookbill, Dysmorodrepanis munroi (Lanaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, 1918)
  • Kauaʻi palila, Loxioides kikuichi (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, early 18th century?)
  • Lesser koa finch, Rhodacanthus flaviceps (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands, 1891)
  • Greater koa finch, Rhodacanthus palmeri (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands, 1896)
  • Greater ʻamakihi, Viradonia sagittirostris (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands, 1901)
  • Maui nukupuʻu, Hemignathus affinis (Maui, Hawaiian Islands, 1990s)
  • Kauaʻi nukupuʻu, Hemignathus hanapepe (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, late 1990s)
  • Oʻahu nukupuʻu, Hemignathus lucidus (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands, late 19th century)
  • Hawaiʻi ʻakialoa or lesser ʻakialoa, Akialoa obscurus (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands, 1940)
  • Maui Nui ʻakialoa, Akialoa lanaiensis (Lanaʻi and, prehistorically, probably Maui and Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, 1892)
  • Oʻahu ʻakialoa, Akialoa ellisiana (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands, early 20th century)
  • Kauaʻi ʻakialoa, Akialoa stejnegeri (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, 1969)
  • KākāwahieKākāwahie, Paroreomyza flammea (Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, 1963)
  • Oʻahu ʻalauahio, Paroreomyza maculata (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands, early 1990s?)Officially classified as critically endangered. The last reliable record of this bird was in 1985, with an unconfirmed sighting in 1990.
  • Maui ʻakepa, Loxops ochraceus (Maui, Hawaiian Islands, 1988)
  • Oʻahu ʻakepa, Loxops wolstenholmei (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands, 1900s)
  • ʻUla-ʻai-hawane, Ciridops anna (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands, either 1892 or 1937)
  • Black mamo, Drepanis funerea (Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, 1907)
  • Hawaii mamoHawaii mamo, Drepanis pacifica (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands, 1898)
  • Laysan honeycreeper, Himatione fraithii (Laysan, Hawaiian Islands, 1923)
  • Poʻouli, Melamprosops phaeosoma (Maui, Hawaiian Islands, 2004)

Thraupidae – tanagers

  • “Hooded seedeater“, Sporophila melanops (Brazil, South America, 20th century?)Officially classified as critically endangered. It is known only from a single male collected in 1823 and is now considered either an abnormal specimen of the still-existing yellow-bellied seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis) or a hybrid.

Passerellidae – New World sparrows

  • Bermuda towhee, Pipilo naufragus (Bermuda, West Atlantic, 17th century?)Known from subfossil bones and possibly from a travel report by William Strachey in 1610.

Extinct/possibly extinct/status unknown bird subspecies

The extinction of subspecies is a subject that is very dependent on guesswork. National and international conservation projects and research publications such as red lists usually focus on species as a whole. Reliable information on the status of vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered subspecies usually has to be assembled piecemeal from published observations, such as regional checklists. Therefore, the following list contains a high proportion of bird taxa that may still exist, but are listed here due to any one of, or any combination of, these three factors: absence of recent records, a known threat such as habitat destruction, or an observed decline.

Palaeognathae

Ratites and tinamous

Struthioniformes

Arabian ostrich

Apterygiformes

Casuariiformes

Kangaroo Island emu
  • Dromaius – emus
    • King Island emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae minor (King Island, Australia, 1822)An island dwarf subspecies of the emu; extinct in the wild c. 1805, the last captive specimen died in 1822 in the Jardin des Plantes.
    • Kangaroo Island emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae baudinianus (Kangaroo Island, Australia, 1827)Another island dwarf subspecies of the emu; extinct since c. 1827.
    • Tasmanian emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae diemenensis (Tasmania, Australia, mid-19th century)Yet another island dwarf subspecies of the emu; the last wild bird was collected in 1845, but it may have survived in captivity until 1884. It may be invalid.

Neognathae

Anseriformes

Ducks, geese and swans

  • Bering cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii asiatica (Commander and Kuril Islands, North Pacific, c. 1914 or 1929)A formerly recognised subspecies of the cackling goose (formerly called the Bering Canada goose (Branta canadensis asiatica)) which was not distinct from the similar-looking (and still-existing) Aleutian cackling goose (B. h. leucopareia) (formerly called the Aleutian Canada goose (B. c. leucopareia)) and is now considered to be invalid.
  • Rennell Island teal, Anas gibberifrons remissa (Rennell Island, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, c. 1959)A doubtfully distinct subspecies of the Sunda teal which disappeared due to predation on ducklings by introduced Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus).
  • Niceforo’s yellow-billed pintail, Anas georgica niceforoi (Colombia, South America, 1950s)A subspecies of the yellow-billed pintail that has not been recorded since the 1950s.
  • Borrero’s cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera borreroi (Colombia and Ecuador, South America, mid-20th century?)A subspecies of the cinnamon teal known only from a restricted area in the Cordillera Occidental of Colombia, with two records from Ecuador. It was discovered in 1946 and thought to have become extinct by 1956.
  • Coues’s gadwallCoues’s gadwall or Washington Island gadwall, Mareca strepera couesi (Teraina, Line Islands, Kiribati, Central Pacific, c. 1900)This island dwarf subspecies of the gadwall was discovered and named in 1874 after two birds were shot and has not been recorded since, with none found by a 1924 expedition from Honolulu’s Bishop Museum.

Galliformes

Heath hen

Quails and relatives

  • Lake Amik black francolin, Francolinus francolinus billypayni (southern Turkey, possibly Lebanon, 1960s)A doubtfully distinct subspecies of the black francolin.
  • Sicilian black francolin, Francolinus francolinus ssp. (Sicily, Mediterranean Sea, c. 1869)Another doubtfully distinct subspecies of the black francolin.
  • Heath hen, Tympanuchus cupido cupido, (New England region, North America, 1932)A subspecies of the greater prairie-chicken.
  • New Mexico sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus hueyi (New Mexico, North America, 1952)A subspecies of the sharp-tailed grouse last recorded in Colfax County in 1952.
  • Moroccan helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris sabyi (Morocco, Northwest Africa, mid- to late 20th century?)A subspecies of the helmeted guineafowl. Reportedly still kept in captivity in Morocco in the late 1990s. Possibly extinct in the wild by 1950; three records from the 1970s may refer to feral-domestic hybrids.

Charadriiformes

Waders, gulls and auks

Turnicidae – buttonquails

  • Tawi-Tawi common buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus suluensis (Tawi-Tawi, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, mid-20th century?)A subspecies of the common buttonquail; it has not been recorded since the 1950s, but there have been few surveys and it may still exist.

Gruiformes

Rails and cranes – probably paraphyletic

  • Goldman’s yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis goldmani (Mexico, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the yellow rail that has not been recorded since 1964 and has lost much of its wetland habitat since then.
  • Peruvian rail, Rallus semiplumbeus peruvianus (Peru, South America, 20th century?)A subspecies of the Bogotá rail or possibly a distinct species which is known from a single specimen collected in the 1880s. It may still exist.
  • Macquarie rail, Gallirallus philippensis macquariensis (Macquarie Islands, Southwest Pacific, 1880s)A subspecies of the buff-banded rail.
  • Raoul Island banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis ssp. (Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, Southwest Pacific, late 19th century?)Reports of the former occurrence of this subspecies on Raoul seem to be plausible enough, but they may refer to vagrant individuals of another subspecies of the buff-banded rail.
  • Western Lewin’s rail, Lewinia pectoralis clelandi (southwestern Australia, late 1930s?)A subspecies of Lewin’s rail not recorded since 1932 despite multiple surveys in the late 20th century.
  • Assumption white-throated rail, Dryolimnas cuvieri abbotti (Assumption, Astove and Cosmoledo, Aldabra, early 20th century)A subspecies of the white-throated rail.
  • Jamaican wood rail, Amaurolimnas concolor concolor (Jamaica, West Indies, late 19th century)The nominate subspecies of the uniform crake declined rapidly and became extinct following the introduction of the small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) to Jamaica in 1872.
  • Intact rail, Gymnocrex plumbeiventris intactus (Melanesia, 20th century?)A douábtfully distinct subspecies of the bare-eyed rail known from a single specimen, c. mid-19th century, either from the Solomon Islands or New Ireland. It may still exist.
  • Bornean Baillon’s crake, Zapornia pusilla mira (Borneo, Indonesia, 20th century?)A subspecies of Baillon’s crake known from a single 1912 specimen and not found since; it may be extinct, but the species is hard to find.
  • Moroccan bustard, Ardeotis arabs lynesi (Morocco, Northwest Africa, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the Arabian bustard. Last observed in 1993 at Lac Merzouga / Lac Tamezguidat.
  • Luzon sarus crane, Antigone antigone luzonica (Luzon, Philippines, late 1960s)A subspecies of the sarus crane which is not always accepted as valid by all authorities, possibly because the existing specimens have not been thoroughly studied since it was first described.

Pelecaniformes

Bonin nankeen night heron

Herons and related birds – possibly paraphyletic

Columbiformes

Pigeons, doves and dodos

  • Madeiran wood pigeon, Columba palumbus maderensis (Madeira, East Atlantic, early 20th century)A subspecies of the common wood pigeon.
  • Lord Howe pigeon, Columba vitiensis godmanae (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, 1853)This subspecies of the metallic pigeon was last recorded in 1853 and almost certainly became extinct by 1869.
  • Tongan metallic pigeon, Columba vitiensis ssp. (Vavaʻu, Tonga, late 18th century?)This subspecies of the metallic pigeon is only known from a footnote in John Latham‘s General History of Birds and seems to have become extinct some time before 1800; possibly, however, the location is erroneous and the footnote really refers to the still-existing population on Fiji.
  • Réunion pink pigeon, Nesoenas mayeri duboisi (Réunion, Mascarenes, c. 1700)A subspecies of the pink pigeon, formerly in Streptopelia. There seems to have been at least another species of pigeon on Réunion (probably a blue pigeon species, see above), but bones have not yet been found. It became extinct at the same time as this subspecies did.
  • Amirante turtle dove, Nesoenas picturatus aldabrana (Amirante Islands, Seychelles, late 20th century)This subspecies of the Malagasy turtle dove survived until at least 1974, after which it was hybridized out of existence through crossbreeding with the introduced nominate subspecies (N. p. picturatus).
  • Catanduanes bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica rubiventris (Catanduanes, Philippines, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the Luzon bleeding-heart known from a single specimen collected in 1971. There have been recent reports of this bird and, as much of its forest habitat still remains, it is likely that it may still exist.
  • Basilan bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba crinigera bartletti (Basilan, Philippines, mid-20th century?)A subspecies of the Mindanao bleeding-heart last reported in 1925 and, given the massive habitat destruction, is likely extinct.
  • Vella Lavella ground dove, Pampusana jobiensis chalconota (Vella Lavella, Makira and Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the white-breasted ground dove or possibly a distinct species. Known from only four specimens; there are no recent records and the natives report that it has disappeared.
  • White-headed Polynesian ground dove, Pampusana erythroptera albicollis (Central Tuamotu Islands, South Pacific, 20th century?)This subspecies of the Polynesian ground dove, often referred to as P. e. pectoralis, became extinct at an undetermined date, but it may still exist on some unsurveyed atolls. The identity of the northern Tuamotu Islands population, which may also possibly still exist, is undetermined to date.
  • Ebon crimson-crowned fruit dove, Ptilinopus porphyraceus marshallianus (Ebon?, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, late 19th century?)A subspecies of the crimson-crowned fruit dove of doubtful validity known from a single specimen collected in 1859; it is not certain whether or not this bird actually did occur on Ebon. All that can be said with certainty is that this subspecies is no longer found anywhere.
  • Mauke lilac-crowned fruit dove, Ptilinopus rarotongensis “byronensis” (Mauke, Cook Islands, South Pacific, mid- or late 19th century)A subspecies of the lilac-crowned fruit dove known only from the description of a now-lost specimen. The prehistorically extinct population on Mangaia likely belongs to another distinct subspecies also.
  • Negros spotted imperial pigeon, Ducula carola nigrorum (Negros and probably Siquijor, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the spotted imperial pigeon not recorded since the 1950s.
  • Norfolk pigeon, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae spadicea (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, early 20th century)A subspecies of the kererū or New Zealand pigeon not recorded since 1900. Similar birds were reported from Lord Howe Island; these seem to represent another extinct subspecies, but are undescribed to date.
  • Raoul Island kererū, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae ssp. nov. (Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, South Pacific, 19th century)Another undescribed subspecies of the kererū or New Zealand pigeon or possibly a distinct species; known from bones and a brief report.[72]

Cuculiformes

Cuckoos

  • Greater crested coua, Coua cristata maxima (southeastern Madagascar, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the crested coua, known only from a single specimen taken in 1950. It may be a hybrid but if it is not, it is probably extinct.
  • Assumption Island coucal, Centropus toulou assumptionis (Assumption Island, Seychelles, early 20th century)A subspecies of the Malagasy coucal last recorded in 1906. It is sometimes considered synonymous with the still-existing Aldabra subspecies (C. t. insularis), which has since recolonized Assumption Island.
  • Cabo San Lucas groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris pallidula (Mexico, c. 1940)A weakly differentiated and probably invalid subspecies of the groove-billed ani.
  • Bahia rufous-vented ground cuckoo, Neomorphus geoffroyi maximiliani (eastern Brazil, South America, mid-20th century?)A subspecies of the rufous-vented ground cuckoo.

Strigiformes

True owls, barn owls and bay owls

Strigidae – true owls

  • Sulu reddish scops owl, Otus rufescens burbidgei (Sulu, Philippines, mid-20th century)A subspecies of the reddish scops owl only known from a single questionable specimen. It may be invalid.
  • Virgin Islands owl, Gymnasio nudipes newtoni (Virgin Islands, West Indies, 20th century?)A subspecies of the Puerto Rican owl of somewhat doubtful validity, which occurred on several of the Virgin Islands. The last reliable records were in 1860; there were a number of unconfirmed reports during the 20th century, but it was not found in thorough surveys in 1995.
  • Socorro elf owl, Micrathene whitneyi graysoni (Socorro, Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico, mid-20th century?)A subspecies of the elf owl officially classified as critically endangered. The last specimen was taken in 1932, but there was apparently still a large population in 1958; it was not found in subsequent searches and it appears to have become extinct.
  • Antiguan burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia amaura (Antigua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, West Indies, 1903)A subspecies of the burrowing owl, last collected in 1890 and extinct by 1903.
  • Guadeloupe burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia guadeloupensis (Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante, West Indies, 1890)Another subspecies of the burrowing owl, extinct by 1890.
  • Lord Howe boobookLord Howe boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, 1950s)A subspecies of the morepork last recorded in the 1950s.
  • Norfolk boobookNorfolk boobook, Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, 1996)Individuals of the nominate subspecies of the morepork, the New Zealand boobook (N. n. novaeseelandiae) (North Island, South Island and Stewart Island, New Zealand) were introduced to Norfolk Island in a last-ditch effort to save the local owl population. There now exists a hybrid population of a few dozen birds; the last certainly distinct individual of N. n. undulata, a female named Miamiti, died in 1996, though hybrid individuals descended from her remain. Technically, therefore, this subspecies still exists.

Tytonidae – barn owls and bay owls

  • Cave-nesting masked owl, Tyto novaehollandiae troughtoni (Nullarbor Plain, Australia, 1960s)Doubtfully distinct from the nominate subspecies of the Australian masked owl, but differed behaviorally.
  • Buru masked owl, Tyto sororcula cayelii (Buru, Indonesia, mid-20th century?)A subspecies of the Moluccan masked owl last recorded in 1921; the identity of a similar bird found on Seram remains to be determined. It may still exist, as an owl matching this bird’s description was encountered in August 2006.
  • Peleng masked owl, Tyto rosenbergii pelengensis (Peleng, Banggai Islands, Indonesia, mid-20th century)A subspecies of the Sulawesi masked owl or a distinct species. It may possibly still exist, but the only known specimen was taken in 1938 and there have been no further records since then.
  • Samar bay owl, Phodilus badius riverae (Samar, Philippines, mid-20th century)A subspecies of the Oriental bay owl or a possibly distinct species. Its taxonomy is doubtful, but the only known specimen was lost in a 1945 bombing raid, so its validity cannot be verified; no population exists on Samar today.

Apodiformes

Alejandro Selkirk firecrown

Swifts and hummingbirds

  • Miravalles indigo-capped hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanifrons alfaroana (Costa Rica, Central America, 20th century?)This subspecies of the indigo-capped hummingbird is only known from a specimen collected in Costa Rica in 1895. It is likely to have become extinct since then.
  • Alejandro Selkirk firecrown, Sephanoides fernandensis leyboldi (Alejandro Selkirk Island, Juan Fernández Islands, Southeast Pacific, 1908)A subspecies of the Juan Fernández firecrown last recorded in 1908.
  • Luzon Whitehead’s swiftlet, Aerodramus whiteheadi whiteheadi (Luzon, Philippines, 20th century?)The nominate subspecies of Whitehead’s swiftlet is only known from four specimens collected at Mount Data in 1895. Because of the lack of further records and massive habitat destruction, it is usually considered extinct. Given the size of the island, though, it may still exist.

Coraciiformes

Kingfishers and related birds

  • Sangihe dwarf kingfisher, Ceyx fallax sangirensis (Sangihe Islands, Indonesia, 1998?)This subspecies of the Sulawesi dwarf kingfisher was last seen in 1997 but not during a thorough survey one year later; it is either close to extinction or already extinct. Sometimes it is said to occur on the Talaud Islands also, but this is erroneous.
  • Guadalcanal little kingfisher, Ceyx pusillus aolae (Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, ?)A subspecies of the little kingfisher.
  • Rarotonga kingfisher, Todiramphus cf. tutus (Rarotonga, Cook Islands, South Pacific, mid-1980s?)There exist reports of locals that kingfishers – probably a subspecies of the chattering kingfisher (Todiramphus tutus) which is found on neighboring islands, but possibly vagrants from there – were found until around 1979 and there is a last record from 1984. Presently, no kingfishers are known to exist on Rarotonga.
  • “Ryukyu kingfisher“, “Todiramphus cinnamominus miyakoensis” (Miyako-jima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, late 19th century)Previously considered as a distinct species, then reclassified as a subspecies of the Guam kingfisher. Only seen once by scientists in 1887; the specimen taken is somewhat damaged, making identification by anything other than molecular analysis difficult. It is now thought likely that the specimen came from Guam, where the aforementioned species was distributed, rather than Miyako-jima, which would make this subspecies invalid (it was declared invalid by the International Ornithological Congress in 2022).
  • Sakarha pygmy kingfisher, Corythornis madagascariensis dilutus (southwestern Madagascar, late 20th century?)This subspecies of the Madagascar pygmy kingfisher is only known from one specimen taken in 1974 in an area where most of its habitat had already been destroyed. However, there have been records of the species (or an uncertain subspecies) from near the type locality, suggesting it is likely that it may still exist.
  • Ticao hornbill, Penelopides panini ticaensis (Ticao, Philippines, 1970s)A subspecies of the Visayan hornbill of somewhat uncertain taxonomic status (it was possibly either a distinct species or a color morph); the last confirmed report was in 1971 and it became extinct shortly thereafter.

Piciformes

Woodpeckers and related birds

  • Grand Bahama West Indian woodpecker, Melanerpes superciliaris bahamensis (Grand Bahama, Bahamas, 1950s)A subspecies of the West Indian woodpecker of somewhat uncertain validity.
  • Guadalupe red-shafted flicker, Colaptes auratus rufipileus (Guadalupe Island, East Pacific, c. 1906)A subspecies of the northern flicker (formerly considered to be a subspecies of the red-shafted flicker, as C. cafer rufipileus), it was last recorded in 1906 and not found again in both 1911 and 1922. It may be invalid. Recently, vagrant birds of a mainland red-shafted northern flicker subspecies (which one is unknown) have begun recolonizing the island as the habitat improved after the extirpation of feral goats in 2006.
  • Todd’s brown jacamar, Brachygalba lugubris phaeonota (Brazil, South America, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the brown jacamar. It may still exist, as it is only known from a remote and seldom-visited area.
  • Cebu white-bellied woodpecker, Dryocopus javensis cebuensis (Cebu, Philippines, 20th century)A subspecies of the white-bellied woodpecker known only by three specimens collected before 1900.

Accipitriformes

Birds of prey

  • Cape Verde kite, Milvus (milvus) fasciicauda (Cape Verde Islands, East Atlantic, 2000)Considered either a subspecies of the red kite (Milvus milvus), a distinct species, or a hybrid between the red kite and the black kite (Milvus migrans), the validity of this taxon has recently been questioned on the basis of molecular analysis; however, hybridization and a confusing molecular phylogeny of red kite populations, coupled with the distinct phenotype of the Cape Verde birds, suggest that the taxonomic status of this form is far from resolved.
  • Car Nicobar sparrowhawk, Tachyspiza butleri butleri (Car Nicobar, Nicobar Islands, India, 20th century?)The nominate subspecies of the Nicobar sparrowhawk – a species which is itself currently classified as vulnerable – is possibly extinct. It was last reliably recorded in 1901 and, despite searches, has not been sighted after an unconfirmed record in 1977; however, the species is known for being very shy and a population may persist unrecorded.

Falconiformes

Falcons

  • Volcano Islands peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus furuitii (Iwo Jima and Torishima, Ogasawara Islands, Japan, 1940s)A subspecies of the peregrine falcon from the Ogasawara Islands. No sightings have been reported since 1945. A survey in 1982 failed to record it.

Psittaciformes

Parrots

  • Sinú parakeet, Pyrrhura subandina subandina (Sinú Valley, Colombia, South America, mid-20th century?)The nominate subspecies of the Subandean parakeet had a very limited distribution and was last reliably recorded in 1949. It was not found during searches in 2004 and 2005; efforts to find it continue, but are hampered by the threat of armed conflict.
  • Sangir red-and-blue lory, Eos histrio histrio (Sangir Archipelago, Indonesia, 1990s?)The nominate subspecies of the red-and-blue lory was hybridised out of existence through crossbreeding with escaped captive individuals of its other still-existing subspecies, Challenger’s red-and-blue lory (E. h. challengeri), with the last certainly distinct individuals disappearing in the 1990s or even much earlier than that.
  • Macquarie red-crowned parakeet, Cyanorhamphus novaezelandiae erythortis (Macquarie Island, Southwest Pacific, 1890s)A subspecies of the red-crowned parakeet last recorded in 1890 and not found by surveys in 1894.
  • Réunion parakeet, Psittacula eques eques (Réunion, Mascarenes, mid-18th century)Known only from a painting and descriptions; the nominate subspecies of the echo parakeet, with the other one being the still-existing Mauritius parakeet (P. e. echo).
  • Siquijor hanging parrot, Loriculus philippensis siquijorensis (Siquijor, Philippines, 20th century?)A subspecies of the Philippine hanging parrot or colasisi; it is either very rare or already extinct.
  • Sinú brown-throated parakeet, Eupsittula pertinax griseipecta (Sinú Valley, Colombia, South America, mid- or late 20th century?)A subspecies of the brown-throated parakeet known from only two specimens collected in 1949 which are of unclear taxonomic and conservation status.
  • Culebra Island amazon, Amazona vittata gracilipes (Culebra Island, West Indies, early 20th century)A weakly differentiated subspecies of the Puerto Rican amazon, which is itself highly endangered.

Passeriformes

Perching birds

Pittidae – pittas

  • Bougainville black-faced pitta, Pitta anerythra pallida (Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, mid-20th century?)A subspecies of the black-faced pitta. Once common on Bougainville; not recorded since 1938, but it is likely to have been overlooked.
  • Choiseul black-faced pitta, Pitta anerythra nigrifrons (Choiseul, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, late 20th century?)Another subspecies of the black-faced pitta. Not found during recent searches; doubtful records from nearby islands, but it is also likely to have been overlooked.

Tyrannidae – tyrant flycatchers

  • Bogotá bearded tachuri, Polystictus pectoralis bogotensis (Bogotá area, Colombia, South America, 20th century)A subspecies of the bearded tachuri that has not been recorded for some time and is now extinct.
  • Grenadan Euler’s flycatcher, Lathrotriccus euleri flaviventris (Grenada, West Indies, 1950s?)A subspecies of Euler’s flycatcher formerly known as Empidonax euleri johnstoni. It has not been recorded since the 1950s.

Furnariidae – ovenbirds

  • Peruvian scale-throated earthcreeper, Upucerthia dumetaria peruana (Peru, South America, 20th century?)A subspecies of the scale-throated earthcreeper; it is known only from two specimens taken in the early 1950s at Puno, Peru and has not been seen or found since. It may still exist, as there is no obvious reason why it should have become extinct.
  • Northern stripe-crowned spinetail, Cranioleuca pyrrhophia rufipennis (northern Bolivia, South America, 20th century?)A subspecies of the stripe-crowned spinetail known only from a few specimens and not recorded since the 1950s; it may be endangered or possibly extinct.

Formicariidae – antpittas and antthrushes

  • Northern giant antpitta, Grallaria gigantea lehmanni (Colombia, South America, 20th century?)A subspecies of the giant antpitta (or possibly of the great antpitta (Grallaria excelsa), in which case it would be G. e. lehmanni) apparently not recorded since the 1940s. It may still exist in Puracé National Natural Park, where there is plentiful habitat remaining.
  • Antioquia brown-banded antpitta, Grallaria milleri gilesi (Antioquia, Colombia, South America, 20th century?)A subspecies of the brown-banded antpitta recently described from a specimen collected in 1878. It has not been recorded since, despite surveys at a number of likely locations.

Maluridae – Australasian wrens

  • MacDonnell Ranges thick-billed grasswren, Amytornis modestus modestus (Northern Territory, Australia, 1936)The nominate subspecies of the thick-billed grasswren. The last record was a clutch of eggs that was taken in 1936.
  • Namoi thick-billed grasswren, Amytornis modestus inexpectatus (New South Wales, Australia, 1886)Another subspecies of the thick-billed grasswren last recorded in 1886.
  • Large-tailed grasswren, Amytornis textilis macrourus (Western Australia, 1910)A subspecies of the western grasswren last collected in 1910 and extinct since then.

Dasyornithidae – bristlebirds

Western rufous bristlebird
  • Western rufous bristlebird, Dasyornis broadbenti littoralis (Australia, mid-20th century)A subspecies of the rufous bristlebird not recorded since 1940 despite a number of surveys since then, beginning in the 1970s.

Acanthizidae – Australasian warblers, scrubwrens, thornbills and gerygones

  • King Island brown thornbill, Acanthiza pusilla archibaldi (King Island, Australia, likely extant)A subspecies of the brown thornbill which has only been recorded about 10 times since its discovery and is considered extinct by some authorities. The latest record comes from 2002, suggesting that a population of between 20 and 50 birds is likely to still exist, but it is very rare.

Petroicidae – Australasian robins

  • Tiwi Islands hooded robin, Melanodryas cucullata melvillensis (Tiwi Islands, Australia, 1992)A subspecies of the hooded robin last observed in 1992 and not found in exhaustive searches later in the 1990s.

Cinclosomatidae – whipbirds and allies

  • Mount Lofty spotted quail-thrush, Cinclosoma punctatum anachoreta (Australia, mid-1980s?)A subspecies of the spotted quail-thrush last recorded in 1983 and not found in a survey the following year.

Artamidae – woodswallows, currawongs and allies

  • Western pied currawong, Strepera graculina ashbyi (Victoria, Australia, 1927)This subspecies of the pied currawong has been hybridized out of existence by crossbreeding with other subspecies, which probably came into contact with it following habitat destruction in the 1830s. The last certainly distinct individuals were recorded in 1927.

Monarchidae – monarch flycatchers and paradise flycatchers

  • Negros celestial monarch, Hypothymis coelestis rabori (Negros and possibly Sibuyan, Philippines, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the celestial monarch; not uncommon on Negros in 1959, but not recorded since then. A single Sibuyan specimen from an unspecified locality that was taken in the 19th century is the only record for this island.
  • Hiva Oa monarch, Pomarea mendozae mendozae (Hiva Oa and Tahuata, Marquesas Islands, South Pacific, late 20th century)The nominate subspecies of the Marquesan monarch which was very rare by 1974 and not found during multiple surveys in the 1990s.

Rhipiduridae – fantails

  • Lord Howe fantail, Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, c. 1924)A subspecies of the New Zealand fantail that was considered virtually extinct in 1924 and not found by surveys four years later.
  • Guam rufous fantail, Rhipidura versicolor uraniae (Guam, Marianas, West Pacific, 1984)[73]A subspecies of the Micronesian rufous fantail; a conspicuous bird which has not been recorded since 1984.

Campephagidae – cuckooshrikes and trillers

Norfolk long-tailed triller
  • Cebu bar-bellied cuckooshrike, Coracina striata cebuensis (Cebu, Philippines, early 20th century)A subspecies of the bar-bellied cuckooshrike not recorded since its collection in 1906.
  • Maros cicadabird, Edolisoma tenuirostre edithae (Sulawesi, Indonesia, mid-20th century)A subspecies of the Sahul cicadabird known from a single specimen collected in 1931; this was quite possibly just a vagrant individual.
  • Cebu blackish cuckooshrike, Edolisoma coerulescens altera (Cebu, Philippines, 20th century?)A subspecies of the blackish cuckooshrike; it may still exist, as this bird is rather unmistakable, and a 1999 record is therefore likely to be valid, though surveys since then have failed to record it.
  • Marinduque blackish cuckooshrike, Edolisoma coerulescens deschauenseei (Marinduque, Philippines, late 20th century?)Another subspecies of the blackish cuckooshrike; described from specimens collected in 1971, but apparently not seen since then. As few ornithologists have visited Marinduque and forest still remains on the island, it is likely that it may still exist.
  • Norfolk long-tailed triller, Lalage leucopyga leucopyga (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, 1942)The nominate subspecies of the long-tailed triller.

Oriolidae – Old World orioles and allies

  • Cebu dark-throated oriole, Oriolus xanthonotus assimilis (Cebu, Philippines, 20th century?)A subspecies of the dark-throated oriole not confirmed since 1906, though there were unconfirmed reports c. 2001, suggesting a possibility that it may still exist.

Corvidae – crows, ravens, jays and magpies

Pied raven, a color morph of the common raven
  • Pied raven, Corvus corax varius morpha leucophaeus (Faroe Islands, North Atlantic, 1902)A distinct local white-with-black-markings and light brown-billed color morph of the North Atlantic raven, a subspecies of the common raven, found only on the Faroe Islands and not seen since 1902. Birds currently living on the Faroe Islands and on Iceland (the only other area in this subspecies’ range) are all-black and black-billed; this still-existing color morph’s scientific name is Corvus corax varius morpha typicus.

Regulidae – kinglets

  • Guadalupe ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula obscurus (Guadalupe Island, East Pacific, 20th century)A subspecies of the ruby-crowned kinglet that has not been recorded since 1953.

Hirundinidae – swallows and martins

  • Jamaican golden swallow, Tachycineta euchrysea euchrysea (Jamaica, West Indies, c. 1990?)The nominate subspecies of the golden swallow; endemic to Jamaica. The last major roost site was destroyed in 1987 and the last confirmed sighting was in 1989. It may still exist in the Cockpit Country.

Phylloscopidae – phylloscopid warblers or leaf warblers

Acrocephalidae – acrocephalid warblers or reed warblers, brush warblers, swamp warblers, marsh-warblers and tree-warblers

  • Marshall Islands reed warbler, Acrocephalus rehsei ssp.? (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, c. 1880?)Oral tradition and some early reports mention a bird called the annañ which inhabited some of the Marshall Islands. The best match is the Nauru reed warbler; the annañ might have been an undescribed subspecies of that species or a distinct but related species of reed warbler.[69]
  • Laysan millerbirdLaysan millerbird, Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris (Laysan, Hawaiian Islands, late 1910s)The nominate subspecies of the millerbird.

Pycnonotidae – bulbuls

  • Sumatran blue-wattled bulbul, Brachypodius nieuwenhuisii inexspectatus (Sumatra, Indonesia, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the blue-wattled bulbul known only from a single specimen taken in 1937; however, this entire “species”, including this subspecies, may actually be a hybrid.

Cisticolidae – cisticolid warblers

  • Northern white-winged apalis, Apalis chariessa chariessa (Kenya, East Africa, late 20th century?)The nominate subspecies of the white-winged apalis remains known only from the Tana River, a center of endemism. It was last recorded in 1961.
  • Western Turner’s eremomela, Eremomela turneri kalindei (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa, possibly Uganda, East Africa, late 20th century?)The western subspecies of Turner’s eremomela has not been recorded since the end of the 1970s, but there is unsurveyed habitat in its range where it is likely that it may still exist.

Sylviidae – sylviid (“true”) warblers and parrotbills

  • Vanua Levu long-legged thicketbird, Cincloramphus rufus clunei (Vanua Levu, Fiji, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the long-legged thicketbird; it was found only once, but there was an unconfirmed sighting in 1990, suggesting that it may still exist. Its placement in Sylviidae is doubtful.
  • Fayyum warbler, Curruca melanocephala norissae (Egypt, Northeast Africa, 1939)A doubtfully distinct subspecies of the Sardinian warbler. It has not been recorded since 1939.

Zosteropidae – white-eyes; probably belong in Timaliidae (see below)

  • Guam bridled white-eye, Zosterops conspicillatus conspicillatus (Guam, Marianas, West Pacific, 1983)The nominate subspecies of the bridled white-eye or possibly a monotypic species. It was last recorded in 1983.
  • Mukojima white-eye, Apalopteron familiare familiare (Mukojima Group, Ogasawara Islands, Japan, 20th century?)The nominate subspecies of the Bonin white-eye (formerly known as the “Bonin honeyeater”) which has not been recorded since its last specimen was collected in 1930.

Timaliidae – Old World babblers

  • Vanderbilt’s babbler, Malacocincla sepiaria vanderbilti (Sumatra, Indonesia, late 20th century?)An enigmatic subspecies of Horsfield’s babbler known from a single specimen. It has not been seen since the 1940s at the latest.
  • Burmese Jerdon’s babbler, Chrysomma altirostre altirostre (Myanmar, Southeast Asia, 20th century?)The nominate subspecies of Jerdon’s babbler was last confirmed in 1941, but as there has been little fieldwork in its range and a possible sighting occurred in 1994, it is considered likely that it may still exist.

Macrosphenidae – African warblers

  • Chapin’s white-browed crombec, Sylvietta leucophrys chapini (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the white-browed crombec or possibly a distinct species. Restricted to the Lendu Plateau; it is probably rare, though unsurveyed forest remains where it is likely that it may still exist.

Troglodytidae – wrens

  • San Benedicto rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus exsul (San Benedicto, Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico, 1952)A subspecies of the rock wren which became extinct on August 1, 1952 at c. 9:00 AM, when its island habitat was destroyed by a massive volcanic eruption.
  • Guadalupe Bewick’s wren, Thryomanes bewickii brevicauda (Guadalupe Island, East Pacific, late 1890s?)A subspecies of Bewick’s wren. An extinction date of “1903” seems to be in error;[74] the last unquestionable record dates from 1897 and a thorough search in 1901 failed to record it.
  • San Clemente Bewick’s wren, Thryomanes bewickii leucophrys (San Clemente Island, East Pacific, 1941)Another subspecies of Bewick’s wren last recorded in 1941.
  • Daito wren, Troglodytes troglodytes orii (Daito Islands, Japan, c. 1940)A disputed subspecies of the Eurasian wren; it is known from a single specimen that may have been a vagrant individual and, therefore, it is possibly invalid.
  • Martinique Kalinago wren, Troglodytes martinicensis martinicensis (Martinique, West Indies, c. 1890)The nominate subspecies of the Kalinago wren that was last found in 1886.
  • Guadeloupe Kalinago wren, Troglodytes martinicensis guadeloupensis (Guadeloupe, West Indies, late 20th century?)Another subspecies of the Kalinago wren that was found in 1914, 1969 and the 1970s; now either very rare or already extinct.

Paridae – tits, chickadees and titmice

  • Daito varied tit, Sittiparus varius orii (Daito Islands, Japan, 1938)A subspecies of the varied tit last recorded in 1938 and not found in subsequent surveys in 1984 and 1986.
  • Zagros coal tit, Periparus ater phaeonotus (Zagros Mountains, southwestern Iran, 1870)A subspecies of the coal tit only known by the type specimen from 1870.

Cinclidae – dippers

Muscicapidae – Old World flycatchers and chats

  • Tonkean jungle flycatcher, Cyornis colonus subsolanus (Sulawesi, Indonesia, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the Sula jungle flycatcher that is known from a single specimen. It may be invalid.
  • Chinijo stonechat, Saxicola dacotiae murielae (Chinijo Archipelago, Canary Islands, East Atlantic, early 20th century)A subspecies of the Canary Islands stonechat.

Turdidae – thrushes and allies

Lord Howe thrush
  • Norfolk thrush, Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, c. 1975)The nominate subspecies of the Tasman Sea island thrush last seen in 1975.
  • Lord Howe thrush, Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, early 20th century)Another subspecies of the Tasman Sea island thrush last recorded in 1913 and extinct by 1928.
  • Maré thrush, Turdus vanikorensis mareensis (Maré Island, New Caledonia, Melanesia, early 20th century)A subspecies of the Vanikoro island thrush last collected in 1911 or 1912 and not found again after 1939.
  • Peleng red-and-black thrush, Geokichia mendeni mendeni (Peleng, Indonesia, mid-20th century?)The nominate subspecies of the red-and-black thrush; little is known about it.
  • Kibale black-eared ground thrush, Geokichia camaronensis kibalensis (southwestern Uganda, East Africa, late 20th century?)A subspecies of the black-eared ground thrush or possibly a distinct species; known only from two specimens, both from 1966. It is likely that it still exists in suitable habitat, but it could already be extinct.
  • Choiseul russet-tailed thrush, Zoothera heinei choiseuli (Choiseul, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, mid-20th century?)A subspecies of the russet-tailed thrush known from a single specimen found in 1924. It could have been wiped out by introduced feral cats, but the island is poorly known and so it should not be presumed extinct just yet.
  • Isle of Pines solitaire, Myadestes elisabeth retrusus (Isla de la Juventud, West Indies, 20th century)A subspecies of the Cuban solitaire. The last confirmed records were in the 1930s, with unconfirmed reports in the early 1970s.

Mimidae – mockingbirds and thrashers

  • Barbados scaly-breasted thrasher, Allenia fusca atlantica (Barbados, West Indies, 1987?)A subspecies of the scaly-breasted thrasher last recorded in 1987. Most of its range has been searched since then, with no records known.

Estrildidae – estrildid finches (waxbills, munias, etc.)

  • Southern star finch, Bathilda ruficauda ruficauda (Australia, 1995)The nominate subspecies of the star finch last recorded in 1995 and not found during later searches in the 1990s. It is not known to survive in captivity.

Fringillidae – true finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers

  • San Benito house finch, Haemorhous mexicanus mcgregori (San Benito, East Pacific, c. 1940s)A subspecies of the house finch.
  • Lanaʻi ʻalauahio, Paroreomyza montana montana (Lanaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, 1937)The nominate subspecies of the Maui ʻalauahio (or, more properly, the Maui Nui ʻalauahio), it was last recorded in 1937 and was certainly extinct by 1960.

Icteridae – New World blackbirds and allies

  • Grand Cayman oriole, Icterus leucopteryx bairdi (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, West Indies, late 20th century)A subspecies of the Jamaican oriole last recorded in 1967.

Parulidae – New World warblers

  • New Providence yellowthroat, Geothlypis rostrata rostrata (Andros and New Providence, Bahamas, West Indies, 1990?)The nominate subspecies of the Bahama yellowthroat; it is either extinct or almost extinct.

Thraupidae – tanagers

  • Gonâve western chat-tanager, Calyptophilus tertius abbotti (Gonâve, West Indies, c. 1980?)A subspecies of the western chat-tanager last recorded in 1977 and probably extinct.
  • Samaná eastern chat-tanager, Calyptophilus frugivorus frugivorus (eastern Hispaniola, West Indies, late 20th century)The nominate subspecies of the eastern chat-tanager; the last (unconfirmed?) record was in 1982 and concerted efforts to find it ever since have failed.
  • Darwin’s large ground finch, Geospiza magnirostris magnirostris (Floreana Island?, Galápagos Islands, 1957?)The (possibly invalid) nominate subspecies of the large ground finch collected by Charles Darwin in 1835; he gave no precise location for it. A similar bird was found in 1957, but no others have been seen since then.
  • Saint Kitts bullfinch, Melopyrrha portoricensis grandis (Saint Kitts and (prehistorically) Barbuda, West Indies, 1930)A subspecies of the Puerto Rican bullfinch.

Passerellidae – New World sparrows

  • Todos Santos rufous-crowned sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps sanctorum (Islas Todos Santos, East Pacific, 1970s?)A subspecies of the rufous-crowned sparrow once common but not recorded during surveys in the 1970s or since then.
  • Santa Barbara song sparrow, Melospiza melodia graminea (Santa Barbara Island, North America, late 1960s)A subspecies of the song sparrow last seen in 1967; it became extinct due to a severe wildfire in 1959 and subsequent predation by feral cats. Officially declared extinct by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1983.
Dusky seaside sparrow
  • Dusky seaside sparrow, Ammospiza maritima nigrescens (Florida, North America, late 1980s)A subspecies of the seaside sparrow last recorded in the wild in 1987.
  • Guadalupe spotted towhee, Pipilo maculatus consobrinus (Guadalupe Island, East Pacific, c. 1900)A subspecies of the spotted towhee.