List of Extinct Birds - (Probably) Extinct Subspecies of Birds - Passeriformes

Passeriformes

Perching birds.

Pittidae – Pittas

• Bougainville Black-faced Pitta, Pitta anerythra pallida (Bougainville, Solomon Islands, mid-20th century)

A subspecies of the Black-faced Pitta. Once common on Bougainville, but not recorded since 1938.

• Choiseul Black-faced Pitta, Pitta anerythra nigrifrons (Choiseul, Solomon Islands, late 20th century?)

Another subspecies of the Black-faced Pitta. Not found anymore during recent searches; doubtful records from nearby islands.

Tyrannidae – Tyrant flycatchers

• Bogotá Bearded Tachuri, Polystictus pectoralis bogotensis (C Colombia, late 20th century?)

A Bearded Tachuri subspecies or possibly a distinct species that has not been recorded for some time and is probably extinct.

• Grenadan Euler's Flycatcher– Lathrotriccus euleri flaviventris (Grenada, West Indies, early 1950s)

A subspecies of Euler's Flycatcher, formerly known as Empidonax euleri johnstonei.

• San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus dubius (San Cristóbal, Galapagos, late 20th century?)

A subspecies of Vermilion Flycatcher, described as extremely rare by David W. Steadman in the 1980s and not found despite a six-month survey in 1998. Sometimes considered as full species.

Furnariidae – Ovenbirds

• Peruvian Scale-throated Earthcreeper, Upucerthia dumetaria peruana (Peru, late 20th century?)

A subspecies of the Scale-throated Earthcreeper, it is only known from 2 specimens taken in the early 1950s at Puno, Peru, and has never been found since. It might still exist, or have become extinct due to habitat destruction in the meantime.

• Northern Stripe-crowned Spinetail, Cranioleuca pyrrhophia rufipennis (N Bolivia, late 20th century?)

A Stripe-crowned Spinetail subspecies known from a few specimens and not recorded since the 1950s; may be endangered or even extinct.

Formicariidae – Antpittas and antthrushes

• Northern Giant Antpitta, Grallaria gigantea lehmanni (Colombia, late 20th century?)

A Giant Antpitta (or possibly Great Antpitta) subspecies apparently not recorded since the 1940s. Might still survive in Puracé National Natural Park.

Pardalotidae – Pardalotes, scrubwrens, thornbills, and gerygones

• Western Rufous Bristlebird, Dasyornis broadbenti littoralis (Australia, 20th century) – Rufous Bristlebird subspecies
• King Island Brown Thornbill, Acanthiza pusilla archibaldi (King Island, Australia, early 1970s?)

A Brown Thornbill subspecies which was last found in 1971, but there was an unconfirmed report in 2002 suggesting a small number is still extant.

Petroicidae – Australasian "robins"

• Tiwi Island Hooded Robin, Melanodryas cucullata melvillensis (Tiwi Islands, Australia, 1992)

Subspecies of the Hooded Robin, last observed in 1992

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 1984.

Monarchidae – Monarch 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 never recorded afterwards. A single Sibuyan specimen from an unspecified locality taken in the 19th century is the only record for this island.

• Hiva Oa Monarch, Pomarea mendozae mendozae (Hiva Oa and Tahuata, Marquesas, late 1970s) – Marquesas Monarch nominate subspecies
• Manu'a Shrikebill, Clytorhynchus vitiensis powelli (Manu'a Islands, Samoa, 1990s?)

Usually treated as a subspecies of the Fiji Shrikebill but probably a distinct species, the American Samoan population declined due to habitat destruction and may have become extinct following the cyclones Ofa and Val.

Rhipiduridae – fantails

• Lord Howe Fantail, Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, c. 1925)– New Zealand Fantail subspecies
• Guam Rufous Fantail, Rhipidura rufifrons uraniae (Guam, Marianas, 1984) – Rufous Fantail subspecies

Campephagidae – Cuckoo-shrikes and trillers

• Cebu Bar-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina striata cebuensis (Cebu, Philippines, early 20th century) – Bar-bellied Cuckoo-shrike subspecies
• Maros Cicadabird, Coracina tenuirostris edithae (Sulawesi, mid-20th century)

A subspecies of the Cicadabird known from a single specimen collected in 1931; quite possibly just a vagrant individual.

• Cebu Blackish Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina coerulescens altera (Cebu, Philippines, early 20th century?)

A Blackish Cuckoo-shrike subspecies; possibly extant as the birds are rather unmistakable and a 1999 record therefore likely to be valid.

• Marinduque Blackish Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina coerulescens deschauenseei (Marinduque, Philippines, late 20th century?)

Another Blackish Cuckoo-shrike subspecies, described from specimens collected in 1971, but apparently not seen since.

• Norfolk Island Long-tailed Triller, Lalage leucopyga leucopyga (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, 1942)

A subspecies of the Long-tailed Triller, possibly a distinct species.

Oriolidae – Orioles and Figbird

• Cebu Dark-throated Oriole, Oriolus xanthonotus assimilis (Cebu, Philippines, early 20th century)– Dark-throated Oriole subspecies

Corvidae – Crows, ravens, magpies and jays

• Pied Raven, Corvus corax varius morpha leucophaeus (Faroe Islands, 1948)

A distinct local variety of the Icelandic subspecies of the Common Raven.

Callaeidae – New Zealand wattlebirds

• South Island Kōkako, Callaeas cinerea cinerea (South Island, New Zealand, 1960s?)

The nominate subspecies of the Kōkako is usually considered extinct, as it has not been reliably recorded for decades. However, there are recent reports from Fiordland suggesting a population still exists.

Regulidae – Kinglets

• Guadalupe Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula obscurus (Guadalupe, East Pacific, 20th century?)

A subspecies of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet that has not been found in recent times.

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. May still exist in the Cockpit Country, but probably extinct.

Phylloscopidae – phylloscopid warbers or leaf-warblers

• Eastern Canary Islands Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus canariensis exsul (Lanzarote and possibly Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, 1986?)

A subspecies of the Canary Islands Chiffchaff, it became extinct in 1986 at latest, but probably much earlier, at some time in the first half of the 20th century.

Cettiidae – cettiid warblers or typical bush-warblers

• Babar Stubtail, Urosphena subulata advena (Babar, Indonesia, mid-20th century) – Timor Stubtail subspecies
• Western Turner's Eremomela, Eremomela turneri kalindei (Congo Basin, early 1980s)

The West African subspecies of Turner's Eremomela has not been recorded since the end of the 1970s and habitat at the locations where it was once found is much reduced or destroyed. Placement in Cettiidae requires confirmation.

Acrocephalidae – acrocephalid warblers or marsh- and tree warblers

• Aguiguan Nightingale Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus luscinia nijoi (Aguiguan, Marianas, c. 1997)

A subspecies of the Nightingale Reed-warbler of uncertain validity.

• Astrolabe Nightingale Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus luscinia astrolabii (Marianas?, mid-19th century?)

A valid taxon, probably a subspecies of the Nightingale Reed-warbler, known from just 2 specimens found at an unknown location in the western Pacific.

• Pagan Nightingale Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus luscinia yamashinae (Pagan, Marianas, 1970s)

Another doubtful subspecies of the Nightingale Reed-warbler.

• Marshall Islands Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus rehsei ssp.? (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, c.1880?)

Oral tradition and some early reports mention a bird called 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 distant but related species of reed-warbler.

• Laysan Millerbird, Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris (Laysan Island, Hawaiian Islands, late 1910s)

Millerbird nominate subspecies

• Huahine Polynesian Warbler, Acrocephalus caffer garretti (Huahine, Society Islands, 19th century?)

A poorly known subspecies of the Tahiti Reed-warbler.

• Raiatea Polynesian Warbler, Acrocephalus caffer musae (Raiatea, Society Islands, 19th century?)

Another subspecies of the Tahiti Reed-warbler, known only from a drawing.

Pycnonotidae – Bulbuls

• Sumatra Blue-wattled Bulbul, Pycnonotus nieuwenhuisii inexspectatus (Sumatra, Indonesia, late 20th century?)

A subspecies of the Blue-wattled Bulbul known from a single 1937 specimen. The entire "species" may be a hybrid.

Cisticolidae – Cisticolas and allies

• Northern White-winged Apalis, Apalis chariessa chariessa (Kenya, 1960s?)

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.

Sylviidae – sylviid ("true") warblers and parrotbills

• Vanua Levu Long-legged Warbler, Trichocichla rufa clunei (Vanua Levu, Fiji, late 20th century?)

A subspecies of the Long-legged Warbler; it was only found once, but there was an unconfirmed sighting in 1990. Placement in Sylviidae doubtful.

• Fayyum Warbler, Sylvia melanocephala/momus norissae (Egypt, c. 1940)

A doubtfully distinct Sardinian Warbler subspecies.

Zosteropidae – White-eyes. Probably belong into Timaliidae

• Guam Bridled White-eye, Zosterops conspicillatus conspicillatus (Guam, Marianas, 1983)

Bridled White-eye nominate subspecies or possibly monotypic species.

• Seychelles Chestnut-sided White-eye, Zosterops mayottensis semiflava (Marianne Island, Seychelles, late 19th century). Extinct subspecies of the Chestnut-sided White-eye.

Sometimes considered as full species

• Mukojima White-eye, Apalopteron familiare familiare (Mukojima Group, Ogasawara Islands, 1930s)

Bonin White-eye ("Bonin Honeyeater") subspecies

Timaliidae – Old World babblers

• Vanderbilt's Babbler, Malacocincla sepiarium vanderbilti (Sumatra, Indonesia, late 20th century?)

An enigmatic subspecies of the Horsfield's Babbler, known from a single specimen. Not seen since the 1940s at the latest.

• Burmese Jerdon's Babbler, Chrysomma altirostre altirostre (Myanmar, 1940s)

The nominate subspecies of Jerdon's Babbler was last seen in 1941, but due to the lack of recent fieldwork, it might still exist.

"African warblers"

• Chapin's Crombec, Sylvietta leucophrys chapini (Congo Basin, late 20th century?)

A subspecies of the White-browed Crombec, sometimes listed as a separate species. Restricted to the Lendu Plateau, it is either rare or already extinct.

Sylvioidea incertae sedis

• Amik Gölü Bearded Reedling, Panurus biarmicus kosswigi (S Turkey, 1970s)

Bearded Reedling subspecies

Troglodytidae – Wrens

• San Benedicto Rock Wren, Salpinctes obsoletus exsul (San Benedicto, Revillagigedo Islands, 1952)

A subspecies of the Rock Wren which became extinct around 9 AM, August 1, 1952, when its island habitat was devastated by a massive volcanic eruption.

• Guadalupe Bewick's Wren, Thryomanes bewickii brevicauda (Guadalupe, East Pacific, late 1890s?)

Bewick's Wren subspecies. An extinction date of "1903" seems to be in error; the last unquestionable record is apparently of 1897.

• San Clemente Bewick's Wren, Thryomanes bewickii leucophrys (San Clemente, East Pacific, 1940s)

Another Bewick's Wren subspecies.

• Daito Winter Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes orii (Daito Islands, Northwest Pacific, c. 1940)

A disputed Winter Wren subspecies; as it is known from a single specimen that may have been a vagrant individual, it is possibly invalid.

• Guadeloupe Wren, Troglodytes aedon guadeloupensis (Guadeloupe, Caribbean, late 20th century?)

Found in 1914, 1969, 1970s; very rare or already extinct. Taxonomy unresolved. Part of the House Wren complex; other scientific names include T. musculus guadeloupensis and T. guadeloupensis

• Martinique Wren, Troglodytes aedon martinicensis (Martinique, Caribbean, c. 1890)

Last found in 1886. Another House Wren complex taxon; other scientific names include T. musculus martinicensis and T. martinicensis.

Petroicidae – Australasian Robins Paridae – Tits, chickadees and titmice

• Daito Varied Tit, Poecile varia orii (Daito Islands, Northwest Pacific, c. 1940)

A Varied Tit subspecies, variously placed in genus Sittiparus and Parus also. Not found in subsequent surveys in 1984 and 1986.

• Zagros Coal Tit, Periparus ater phaeonotus (Zagros Mountains, South-western Iran)

A Coal Tit subspecies, only known by the type specimen from 1870

Cinclidae – Dippers

• Cyprus Dipper, Cinclus cinclus olympicus (Cyprus, Northeast Mediterranean, 1950s)

A subspecies of the White-throated Dipper of questionable validity.

Muscicapidae – Old World Flycatchers and chats

• Tonkean Henna-tailed Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias colonus subsolanus (Sulawesi, Indonesia, late 20th century?)

A Henna-tailed Jungle Flycatcher subspecies that is known from a single specimen; it may not be valid.

• Chinijo Chat, Saxicola dacotiae murielae (Chinijo Archipelago, Canary Islands, early 20th century)

Fuerteventura Chat subspecies

Turdidae – Thrushes and allies

• Norfolk Island Thrush, Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, c. 1975)

Island Thrush subspecies

• Maré Island Thrush, Turdus poliocephalus mareensis (Maré, Melanesia, early 20th century)

Another subspecies of the Island Thrush, last collected in 1911 or 1912 and not found anymore in 1939.

• Lord Howe Island Thrush, Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus (Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific, 1920s)

Yet another Island Thrush subspecies

• Lifou Island Thrush, Turdus poliocephalus pritzbueri (Lifou, Melanesia, early 20th century)

Yet another subspecies of the Island Thrush. Similar birds still exist on Tanna, New Hebrides, but given the fact that the species readily differentiates into subspecies and that the distance between Tanna and Lifou is considerable, it is far from certain that the Tanna birds belong to this subspecies.

• Peleng Red-and-black Thrush, Zoothera mendeni mendeni (Peleng, Indonesia, mid-20th century?)

Red-and-black Thrush nominate subspecies

• Kibale Black-eared Ground-thrush, Zoothera camaronensis kibalensis (SW Uganda, late 20th century?)

A Black-eared Ground-thrush subspecies known only from two 1966 specimens. Rare or possibly already extinct.

• Choiseul Russet-tailed Thrush, Zoothera heinei choiseuli (Choiseul, Solomon Islands, mid-20th century?)

A subspecies of the Russet-tailed Thrush known from a single specimen found in 1924 and probably killed off by introduced cats, most likely in the 1940s.

• St Lucia Forest Thrush, Cichlherminia lherminieri sanctaeluciae (St Lucia, West Indies, 1980s)

A subspecies of the Forest Thrush, last seen in 1980.

• Pines Solitaire, Myadestes elisabeth retrusus (Isla de la Juventud, West Indies, late 1930s?)

A subspecies of the Cuban Solitaire. Unconfirmed records suggest it did still exist in the early 1970s.

Mimidae – Mockingbirds and thrashers

• Barbados Scaly-breasted Thrasher, Allenia fusca atlantica (Barbados, West Indies, c. 1990)

Scaly-breasted Thrasher subspecies

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

• Southern Star Finch, Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda (Australia, c. 2000)

A subspecies of the Star Finch; officially critically endangered but probably recently extinct. Not known to survive in captivity.

Fringillidae – True finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers

• San Benito House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus mcgregori (San Benito, East Pacific, c. 1940s)

House Finch subspecies

• Lanaʻi ʻAlauahio, Paroreomyza Montana montana (Lanaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, 1937)

A subspecies of the Maui ʻAlauahio (or properly Maui Nui ʻAlauahio).

• Maui ʻAkepa, Loxops coccineus ochraceus (Maui, Hawaiian Islands, 1988)

ʻAkepa subspecies

• Oʻahu ʻAkepa, Loxops coccineus wolstenholmei (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands, 1990s)

Another ʻAkepa subspecies

• Laysan ʻApapane, Himatione (sanguinea) freethi (Laysan Island, Hawaiian Islands, 1923)

The last individuals of this subspecies of the ʻApapane, possibly a distinct species, disappeared in a sandstorm, probably on the night of April 23/April 24, 1923.

Icteridae – Grackles

• Grand Cayman Oriole, Icterus leucopteryx bairdi (Grand Cayman, West Indies, mid-20th century)

A subspecies of the Jamaican Oriole, last reliably recorded in 1938.

Parulidae – New World warblers

• New Providence Yellowthroat, Geothlypis rostrata rostrata (New Providence, Bahamas, 1990?)

The nominate subspecies of the Bahama Yellowthroat is either almost or completely extinct.

Thraupidae – Tanagers

• Gonâve Western Chat-tanager, Calyptophilus tertius abbotti (Gonâve, West Indies, c. 1980?)

A Western Chat-tanager subspecies last recorded in 1977 and probably extinct.

• Samaná Eastern Chat-tanager, Calyptophilus frugivorus frugivorus (E Hispaniola, West Indies, 1980s?)

An Eastern Chat-tanager subspecies; the last (unconfirmed?) record was in 1982.

• Darwin's Large Ground-finch, Geospiza magnirostris magnirostris (Floreana?, Galapagos Islands, 1957?)

The subspecies of the Large Ground-finch collected by Charles Darwin in 1835; he gave no precise locality. A similar bird was found in 1957, but no others have ever been seen.

• Saint Kitts Bullfinch, Loxigilla portoricensis grandis (Saint Kitts and prehistorically Barbuda, West Indies, 1930)

Puerto Rican Bullfinch subspecies

Emberizidae – Buntings and American sparrows

• Todos Santos Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps sanctorum (Islas Todos Santos, E Pacific, 1970s)

Rufous-crowned Sparrow subspecies

• Santa Barbara Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia graminea (Santa Barbara Island, late 1960s). Last seen in 1967, became extinct due to a severe wild fire in 1959 and subsequent feral cat predation. Officially declared extinct by the USFWS in 1983.
• Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens (Florida, 1987)

Seaside Sparrow subspecies

• Guadalupe Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus consobrinus (Guadalupe Island, East Pacific, c. 1900)

Spotted Towhee subspecies