Toxic bird

Toxic birds are birds that use toxins to defend themselves from predators. No species of bird is known to actively inject or even produce venom, but some birds are known to be poisonous to touch or eat. These birds usually sequester poisons from animals and plants that they feed on, especially poisonous insects.

The hooded pitohui. A neurotoxin called homobatrachotoxin found in the birds' skin and feathers causes numbness and tingling in those touching the bird.

The pitohui, the ifrita, and the rufous or little shrikethrush all sequester batrachotoxin in their skin and feathers.[1] The African spur-winged goose is toxic to eat as it sequesters poison in its tissues, from the blister beetles that it feeds on.[2] Common quail are also known to be toxic and are able to cause coturnism at certain stages in their migrations.

See also

• List of poisonous animals
• Poisonous amphibians
• List of venomous animals
• Venomous snake
• Venomous fish
• Venomous mammals

References

1. Naish, Darren (November 20, 2008). "Ifrita the poisonous passerine". ScienceBlogs. Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
2. Naish, Darren (June 19, 2010). "Death by toxic goose. Amazing waterfowl facts part II". ScienceBlogs. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-28.