First Scientifically Confirmed Poisonous Bird

[JustBusiness17]

The skin and feathers of some pitohuis, especially the Variable and Hooded Pitohuis, contain powerful neurotoxic alkaloids of the batrachotoxin group (also secreted by the Colombian poison dart frogs, genus Phyllobates). It is believed that these serve the birds as a chemical defence, either against ectoparasites or against visually guided predators such as snakes, raptors or humans. (Dumbacher, et al., 1992) The birds probably do not produce batrachotoxin themselves. It is most likely that the toxins come from the Choresine genus of beetles, part of the bird's diet.[

 

[DerGegner]

Wow, they're like something JRR Tolkien would have imagined

Sickly poisonous birds filling the sky

 

[Cush]

So how does the nervous system of the birds themselves work? How do they avoid the effects of the toxin?

 

[Andiferous]

Neat-o.

Amateur science groupie that I am... I know more than I should about birds. Maybe. And I really like them.

Many plants have natural defenses that involve small level of poisons. For instance, Spinach has low levels of cyanide - and for little creatures it might be a bit more harmful than it is for big, tough people like us. And really very curiously, it is theorised that many birds - like scarlet macaws, for instance - have discovered a means of neutralising poisons by adding clay to their diet.

is most likely that the toxins come from the Choresine genus of beetles, part of the bird's diet.

Interesting that they are wondering if this bird is "poisonous" due to its diet, and I think some what probable. Cool. Would love to learn more.