Hooded pitohui bird in New Guinea carries neurotoxins in skin and feathers
The bird's toxins, which are linked to its diet of certain beetles, can cause numbness and burning sensations in humans.
The hooded pitohui, a bird native to the tropical rainforests of New Guinea, carries a powerful neurotoxin in its skin and feathers, according to a report by the Times of India.
The bird, which measures approximately 22–23 cm in length, features an orange-chestnut body with a black head, throat, wings, and tail.
A 1992 study published in the journal Science by ornithologist John P. Dumbacher and colleagues found that three species of pitohui contained homobatrachotoxin, a chemical previously associated with poison-dart frogs.
While the term 'death touch' is used sensationally, there is no established evidence that touching the bird kills a person, though contact can cause tingling, burning, and numbness.
Scientists believe the bird obtains these batrachotoxins through its diet, specifically by consuming small beetles of the genus Choresine.
The hooded pitohui can be found in the tropical, hill, and lower montane forests of New Guinea, including areas like Varirata National Park in Papua New Guinea.