Hooded Pitohui

Hooded Pitohui

The Hooded Pitohui is the famous songbird of New Guinea with bright black and orange plumage. The hooded pitohui may acquire its poison from part of its diet, the Choresine beetles of the family Melyridae.

It is considered to be the only poisonous bird in the world with feathers that burn at human touch. The bird is poisonous because it eats Melyrid beetles, which are themselves poisonous.

Their bright plumage is meant to warn other birds and species not to eat them!