Two lost birds rediscovered in Peru: Sira Barbet and Peruvian Solitaire

The Search for Lost Birds project is dedicated to finding bird species that have not been documented in the wild for over a decade. These species, lacking recent genetic or photographic evidence and without ex-situ populations, are often considered lost to science. According to a recent report by Search for Lost Birds, a major breakthrough occurred in the summer of 2024: during an expedition led by the NGO GECO Nature, the Sira barbet (Capito fitzpatricki) and the Peruvian solitaire (Cichlopsis peruviana) were rediscovered in southeastern Peru – two species last recorded in 2013.

Sira Mountains: An Inaccessible Habitat

The Cordillera de Sira, an isolated mountain range in central Peru, is characterized by steep slopes, dense vegetation, and extreme remoteness, making access particularly difficult. While the northern part of the range was ornithologically surveyed in the 1960s and again in 2013, the southern regions remained largely unexplored. It was only in 2008 that scientists were able to investigate these remote areas and document the Sira barbet for the first time.

The last confirmed sightings of both the Sira barbet and the Peruvian solitaire date back to October 2013. Since then, no further records had been made, particularly for the Sira barbet, which had no entries on platforms such as eBird or other citizen science databases. The prolonged absence of observations led to fears that the species may have gone extinct.

In July 2024, a team from GECO Nature launched a new expedition into the Sira Mountains to survey areas that had not been explored in 2008. The team consisted of an ornithologist, two chiropterologists, and Jasmín Odar, a herpetologist from the Instituto Peruano de Herpetología (IPH). Their mission was to explore one of the last uncharted regions of the Sira barbet’s habitat and other threatened species.

Rediscovering the Sira Barbet

The most significant discovery of the expedition was the rediscovery of the Sira barbet. On the first day, three individuals were observed at an elevation of 1,750 meters, considerably higher than its previously known range of 950 to 1,250 meters. Using careful playback techniques, the team documented a total of five individuals. The only photographic confirmation was provided by Jasmín Odar.

The Sira barbet, a member of the New World barbet family (Capitonidae), was first scientifically described in 2012. Its range is restricted to the humid montane forests on the eastern slopes of the southern Cordillera de Sira. The species primarily feeds on fruit but occasionally consumes insects. Due to its limited distribution and low recorded population, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as “Near Threatened”. While its habitat remains relatively intact, deforestation and climate change pose long-term threats.

Challenges with the Local Community

The expedition initially planned to return to the site for further ecological studies of the Sira barbet. However, some members of the Ashéninka Indigenous community expressed concerns about the presence of researchers. As indigenous landowners, the Ashéninka have full authority over their territory. Out of respect for their concerns, the expedition team decided to halt further research in that location. Additionally, to prevent disturbance to the species, the exact location was not published on platforms such as eBird.

To foster future research collaborations, the Peruvian NGO CORBIDI plans to engage in discussions with the community in early 2025 to explore potential opportunities for scientific research and birdwatching in the area.

The Second Discovery: Peruvian Solitaire

After the early termination of the expedition in the southern Cordillera de Sira, the team decided to shift their focus to the northern part of the range – an area previously studied in the 1960s by American ornithologist John Terborgh. With the support of the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment (SERNANP) and the local conservation organization ECOSIRA, the team was granted access to the site.

In August 2024, another major discovery was made: two Peruvian solitaires (Cichlopsis peruviana) were observed, and their characteristic calls were acoustically documented. This elusive thrush species is distinguished by its ochre-colored throat and inconspicuous brown plumage. Due to its rarity, it had long been considered lost to science and was last reliably recorded in 2013.

The Peruvian solitaire is endemic to the cloud forests of the eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru, inhabiting elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 meters. It is believed to feed primarily on insects and fruits, though little is known about its behavior and breeding ecology. Due to its highly restricted range and ongoing habitat loss, the IUCN classifies it as “Near Threatened.”

Additional Rare Bird Species Discovered

In addition to the rediscovery of the Sira barbet and Peruvian solitaire, the expedition uncovered several other rare or previously unrecorded bird species in this region. Among them were the uniform crake (Amaurolimnas concolor), the Peruvian recurvebill (Syndactyla ucayalae), the extremely rare Sira tanager (Stilpnia phillipsi), first described in 1969, and the plain-backed antpitta (Grallaria haplonota).

Particularly significant was the sighting of the critically endangered Sira curassow (Pauxi koepckeae), whose habitat is restricted to the mountain slopes of the Sira range in eastern Peru. According to the IUCN, fewer than 250 mature individuals of this species remain, making it one of the rarest birds in the world.

These discoveries provide valuable new insights into the distribution and conservation status of threatened bird species. They also highlight the critical importance of targeted expeditions to remote and inaccessible regions for biodiversity conservation. The rediscoveries not only confirm the survival of these species but also offer important data on their habitats and the threats they face. Future expeditions – conducted in close collaboration with local communities – will play a key role in developing effective conservation strategies and ensuring the long-term survival of these unique species.

The Mussau Triller (Lalage conjuncta), another species considered lost, was also recently rediscovered as part of the Search for Lost Birds initiative.