New bird species discovered in Africa

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Researchers with the Smithsonian Institution report that they have discovered a bird species in Western Africa previously unknown to science.

The bird is an olive-backed forest robin and was so named for its olive back and rump. The robin, which was found in Gabon, also is distinguished by white dots in front of each eye. The findings on Stirphrornis pyrrholaemus were published Aug. 15 in the scientific journal Zootaxa.

The Smithsonian, in an announcement, said scientists first observed the bird in 2001 during a field expedition conducted in southwest Gabon as part of the National Zoo’s Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity Program.

Brian Schmidt, a research ornithologist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, brought specimens to the museum in 2003 and noticed differences between the robins and other birds in the museum’s collection. DNA studies later confirmed the robins were a distinct species.

-- Steve Padilla