Jul 03, 2025
Wings on the Brink: The Battle to Preserve More Than 500 Bird Species
Due to habitat loss and climate change, more than 500 bird species could become extinct in the next century
This is more than three times as many bird extinctions as have been documented since 1500 CE
The yellow-bellied sunbird, helmeted hornbill, and bare-necked umbrellabird are among the birds that are at risk
The loss of these birds could damage entire ecosystems by interfering with pollination, seed distribution, and insect control
Birds with large wingspans are more threatened by habitat loss, while larger birds are more susceptible to hunting and climate change
Due to extremely low populations, roughly 250 species could become extinct even if human threats ceased today
To survive, many species need specialised recovery initiatives like breeding campaigns and habitat restoration
68% of the diversity in bird shapes and sizes could be preserved if only 100 of the most unusual threatened birds were saved
To stop mass bird extinctions, a combined approach that reduces threats and promotes species-specific recovery is necessary
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