Pitohui – Pitohuis

The poisonous nature of the birds in this genus distinguishes them from other bird species

The black and reddish feathers in these species reflect the signs of danger. Now, you must wonder what is dangerous about these medium-sized birds perching peacefully on the branches.

Well, the skin and feathers of these birds contain strong poison. A researcher once tried to free a trapped bird from the net when he felt a burning sensation in his hand. He immediately pulled away the hand biting his finger that numbed his mouth. It revealed the toxins present in the body of these birds. Toxicity is unique among birds as no other genus has such characteristics. The level of toxicity varies from species to species, with hooded pitohui being the deadliest.