Variable Pitohui
Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the poisonous variable pitohui from New Guinea.
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Miranda Krestovnikoff presents the poisonous variable pitohui from New Guinea. This jay sized, black-and-tan bird hides a dark secret. Named for their voice, pitohui is a representation of their song and 'variable' refers to their plumage colour which varies across their range. What is striking about this bird is that it is poisonous: its skin and feathers contain powerful neurotoxic alkaloids similar to those of South American poison-dart frogs. For the pitohui, this chemical defence is unlikely to be fatal to predators which prey on them; rather it discourages further attacks. People who've handled have suffered burning sensations in the mouth, numbness in fingers and bouts of sneezing. It is not recommended.
Producer : Andrew Dawes
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Variable pitohui (Pitohui kirhocephalus)
Webpage image courtesy of Jack Dumbacher. © Jack Dumbacher
Recording of Variable pitohui by Andrew L Mack / Ref: ML 79806
This programme contains a wildtrack recording of the variable pitohui kindly provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; recorded by Andrew L Mack on 15 Apr 1996, in Papua New Guinea.
Broadcasts
- Wed 8 Oct 201405:58BBC Radio 4
- Sun 12 Oct 201408:58BBC Radio 4
- Tue 22 Sep 201505:58BBC Radio 4
- Tue 5 Mar 201905:58BBC Radio 4
- Thu 15 Jul 202105:58BBC Radio 4
- Wed 18 Oct 202305:58BBC Radio 4
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