New Ireland: Three lost bird species rediscovered

During an expedition in Papua New Guinea, four young birdwatchers made an extraordinary discovery: In just 17 days, they documented three lost bird species in the mountain forests of New Ireland that had not been reliably recorded for years or even decades—the white-naped lory (Lorius albidinucha), the New Ireland friarbird (Philemon eichhorni), and the New Britain sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza brachyurus).

New Ireland is a narrow, mountainous island in the Bismarck Archipelago northeast of Papua New Guinea. The island is exceptionally rich in biodiversity, but its birdlife remains incompletely studied. Several bird species occur only there or on a few neighboring islands. In particular, the remote mountain forests have rarely been studied systematically—leaving major gaps in our knowledge of the distribution, population, and ecology of many species.

In April 2026, Casper Leygraaf, Cornel Schepers, Joep Duijvestijn, and Danny Bregman traveled to New Ireland. The four birdwatchers had received one of the Ornis x Lost Birds Expedition Grants, a funding program for targeted expeditions in search of bird species that have not been documented for a long time. They focused on two survey areas in the Hans Meyer Range, the island’s highest and southernmost mountain range.

There, they achieved three rediscoveries. According to the Search for Lost Birds initiative, this is the highest number of “lost birds” found on a single expedition since the program began in 2021.

White-naped lory—not documented since 2008

The first rediscovery came on the very first morning in the mountains. The team initially heard parrot calls that sounded like a lory. Shortly afterward, the observers saw and photographed the bird: It was a white-naped lory.

The striking red-and-green parrot is endemic to New Ireland, meaning it occurs nowhere else. The last documented record dated from 2008. Thus, around 18 years separated the last known record from the new sighting in 2026.

The record is especially valuable because it was supported by more than photographs. The team also made the first known audio recordings of the white-naped lory. The species’ vocalizations have now been documented for the first time—an important foundation for future field research.

For a long time, the white-naped lory was known only from New Ireland’s southern mountain massif. It was later also recorded on the Lelet Plateau in the central part of the island. It primarily inhabits hill and mountain forests at elevations of about 500 to 2,000 meters. A few observations also come from much lower elevations down to about 250 meters, although these were in forests that had already been logged.

Little is known about the species’ population and ecology, and no reliable population estimate is available. Earlier observers described the white-naped lory as rare to locally fairly common. Like other lories, it probably feeds mainly on fruit, nectar, and flowers.

The IUCN currently classifies the white-naped lory as Near Threatened. This assessment reflects its small range, where habitat loss and forest degradation continue—particularly at lower elevations. At the same time, it is unclear whether these changes have already caused the population to decline because systematic population data are lacking.

Logging in the southern mountain massif was previously documented up to an elevation of about 500 meters and is therefore likely to have had only a limited effect on the higher mountain forests at first. However, data show that forest loss within the range is progressing slowly but persistently. In the roughly 21 years up to 2023, about 2 to 3% of the forest within the species’ range was lost; since 2017, the loss appears to have accelerated and, when projected, would amount to about 4% over three generations.

This trend must be assessed cautiously because much of the known habitat lies above the elevations that have so far been more heavily affected by logging. In addition, the extent of suitable habitat apparently remained largely stable overall between 1998 and 2020, and parts of the remaining forests are still considered relatively intact. The population trend of the white-naped lory is therefore currently assessed as unknown. The new record now improves the evidence base for a species whose population size and trend remain almost entirely unknown.

New Ireland friarbird—rediscovered after 14 years

The second rediscovery occurred at the expedition’s second mountain site. The team had set out at three in the morning to reach higher elevations by dawn. In the early morning, the observers documented the New Ireland friarbird—a species that had last been reliably recorded in 2012. Around 14 years separated the last known record from the new one in 2026.

The New Ireland friarbird is also endemic to New Ireland. Its range is therefore limited to a single island and, within that island, primarily to montane forests. The species has mainly been recorded at elevations from about 750 meters to at least 2,200 meters. Some sources state that it does not occur below about 900 meters, or at least becomes considerably rarer there. The new sighting in the Hans Meyer Range therefore fits the species’ known elevation profile well.

At around 32 centimeters in length, the New Ireland friarbird is a comparatively large honeyeater. It has a long, strong, and slightly downcurved bill. Like other honeyeaters, it uses its specialized brush-like tongue to consume nectar; pollen, fruit, and small invertebrates may also form part of its diet. However, the plant species that are particularly important to it remain largely unstudied, and little data are available on its breeding biology, territorial behavior, or seasonal movements.

The new record is significant not only as a rediscovery: The team also made the first audio recordings of the New Ireland friarbird. In dense tropical mountain forests, many bird species are heard more often than seen. Documented calls and songs make future searches easier, help with identification in the field, and can be used for acoustic monitoring with automated recording devices. For poorly studied island species, such reference recordings provide an important basis for further research.

The global population of the New Ireland friarbird has not yet been quantified. Within its preferred elevations, however, the species is considered fairly common. The IUCN currently classifies it as Least Concern because there is no evidence of population declines or any major current threat. Although the New Ireland friarbird has a relatively small range and depends heavily on forest habitats, forest loss rates within its range are currently considered very low. Its population is therefore presumed to be stable.

A Least Concern classification should not be confused with being well studied. The New Ireland friarbird demonstrates that even island species not formally considered threatened can disappear from scientific records for years when their habitats are rarely surveyed. The new record improves the evidence base and underscores the value of repeated fieldwork in New Ireland’s mountain forests.

New Britain sparrowhawk—not documented for more than 30 years

The expedition’s most spectacular find was probably the New Britain sparrowhawk. This small bird of prey is among the world’s least-known sparrowhawks. The last documented record dated from 1994; the 2026 discovery therefore provided the first photographic evidence of the species in around 32 years.

The rediscovery happened unexpectedly. During a break, a small sparrowhawk flew silently into a nearby tree. At first, it was not immediately clear which species it was. Only the distinctive reddish collar on its nape allowed a reliable identification. The bird remained perched long enough for the team to observe and photograph it extensively.

The New Britain sparrowhawk is restricted to the islands of New Ireland and New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago. Its actual range is poorly known, however, because it can easily be confused with other sparrowhawk species in the region. Similar species make reliable identification particularly difficult on New Britain. The few existing records suggest that the New Britain sparrowhawk occurs only locally and has a low population density overall.

Another case illustrates how little is still known about the birds of prey in this island region: The range of the New Britain Sparrowhawk overlaps in part with that of the New Britain Goshawk (Tachyspiza princeps). This species also remained almost invisible for decades. The New Britain Goshawk was photographed for the first time ever only in March 2024; before then, it had not been documented for 55 years.

Despite several ornithological surveys on New Britain, the New Britain sparrowhawk was recorded only rarely. During a total of 415 hours of survey effort in 1997/1998 and 2010, the species was observed there only once. On New Ireland, it may occur somewhat more regularly in montane forests; earlier surveys recorded it on four of 13 observation days. However, the area of suitable mountain forest habitat on New Ireland is considerably smaller than on New Britain.

The New Britain sparrowhawk is considered a forest species. Although a few records come from lower elevations, most observations are from montane forests up to about 1,800 meters. On New Ireland, the species has been documented at elevations between 1,200 and 1,800 meters. Nevertheless, almost nothing is known about its ecology: Its diet, hunting behavior, breeding biology, and vocalizations are inadequately described or entirely unknown.

The IUCN classifies the New Britain sparrowhawk as Vulnerable. This is due to its presumably very small population on just two islands, which is likely to continue declining. Its population has been estimated at about 2,500 to 10,000 mature individuals, but could be even smaller. Because related sparrowhawk species can fly between islands, it is assumed that the New Britain Sparrowhawk can also cross the roughly 25 kilometers between New Britain and New Ireland. The birds on both islands are therefore regarded as a single subpopulation.

The main threat is the loss and degradation of forest habitats. Particularly on New Britain, large areas of lowland and hill forest have been commercially logged in recent decades. Many areas were subsequently converted into oil palm plantations or designated for such use. Even though deforestation has slowed somewhat in recent years, data continue to show forest loss within the species’ range. Because the New Britain sparrowhawk is strongly dependent on forest, an ongoing population decline is inferred.

The picture is somewhat different for New Ireland: There, many lowland forests had already been lost before 1989, while conversion to oil palm plantations has so far been less extensive than on New Britain. The island’s montane forests could therefore play an important role in conserving the species. At the same time, these higher regions in particular are difficult to access and have rarely been studied by ornithologists. The rediscovery confirms that the New Britain sparrowhawk still occurs on New Ireland, but also highlights how little is known about its actual distribution and population size.

Other rare species documented

In addition to the three rediscovered species, the expedition produced further records. The team documented several birds that are rarely observed or for which only a few recent reports from the region exist. The journey therefore expands knowledge not only of individual “lost” species, but also of the birdlife of New Ireland and the Bismarck Archipelago as a whole.

One of the most important additional records was the Beck’s petrel (Pseudobulweria becki). For a long time, this rare seabird was known only from two specimens collected in 1928 and 1929. Because no further records were made for decades, the species was once thought possibly extinct. It was not rediscovered until 2007. Every additional record is therefore important for better defining the range, patterns of occurrence, and possible breeding grounds of this still poorly known species.

The Bismarck kingfisher (Ceyx websteri) was also documented. This small kingfisher had not been reliably recorded for 13 years before it was recorded again in May 2025. During the expedition to New Ireland, the team made the first audio recordings of this species.

Another record concerns the New Ireland myzomela (Myzomela pulchella). This nectar-feeding songbird is poorly studied and rarely observed. It occurs on New Ireland and probably also on offshore islands. Recent observations are especially important for species with such restricted regional ranges because they help clarify their actual distribution and the importance of individual habitats.

The expedition also recorded the New Hanover mannikin (Lonchura nigerrima), a poorly documented estrildid finch endemic to New Hanover, an island in the Bismarck Archipelago. Basic information about this species’ population, habitat requirements, and threat status is also incomplete.

The expedition thus provided not only records of the three target species, but also new data on several rarely documented birds of the Bismarck Archipelago, including the first audio recordings of the Bismarck Kingfisher.

Why did these birds remain lost for so long?

Long gaps between records do not automatically mean that a species is on the brink of extinction. They may also reveal how incomplete the available data remain in remote regions, even for birds. The rediscoveries on New Ireland therefore demonstrate above all how strongly ornithological knowledge depends on accessibility, survey effort, and targeted fieldwork.

New Ireland is a good example. To reach suitable mountain forest habitats, researchers must first travel to Kavieng after arriving in Papua New Guinea, then drive for many hours across the island, and finally climb into the mountains on foot. The expedition reached elevations around 1,500 meters—areas that birdwatchers visit only very rarely.

By contrast, many ornithological trips in the region focus on more accessible areas along roads or at lower elevations. Such observations are valuable, but cover only part of the region’s full bird diversity. The remote mountain forests consequently remain underrepresented, even though several endemic or regionally restricted species occur there.

Moreover, some of these species are difficult to detect. Small birds of prey such as the New Britain sparrowhawk can easily be overlooked or confused with similar species. Forest birds such as the white-naped lory and New Ireland friarbird stay hidden in dense vegetation and are more often heard than seen. Without known calls, repeated surveys, and sufficient time in the field, such species can easily go undetected.

The long absence of reliable records therefore cannot be attributed to a single cause. Several factors probably combined: inaccessible habitats, limited survey effort, secretive behavior, and sometimes difficult identification.

What the discoveries reveal about New Ireland

The rediscoveries are representative of many island regions in Papua New Guinea: The Bismarck Archipelago is rich in endemic species, yet many areas remain inadequately studied. The three species have different conservation statuses: The New Britain sparrowhawk is classified as Vulnerable, the white-naped lory as Near Threatened, and the New Ireland friarbird as Least Concern. What they have in common is that fundamental data on their population, distribution, and habitat requirements remain lacking or incomplete.

The new records are therefore more than isolated observations. They improve the basis for future research and show that targeted fieldwork in remote mountain forests can still close crucial gaps in our knowledge.

More than just good news

The 2026 expedition is not an endpoint, but a foundation for further research. The new photographs and audio recordings will enable more targeted future searches, for example through repeated field surveys or acoustic monitoring with automated recording devices. This could help determine how regularly the white-naped lory, New Ireland friarbird, and New Britain sparrowhawk occur in the Hans Meyer Range, the elevations they occupy, and the actual size of their populations.

At the same time, the discoveries show that rediscoveries do not mean the all-clear. Long gaps between records can indicate small populations, but can also result from inaccessible habitats, a lack of fieldwork, or difficult identification. Without targeted searches, such species remain scientifically invisible—and therefore more difficult to protect.

Collaboration with local communities is crucial. In Taron and Manga, landowners and village communities supported the expedition after the team had explained its objectives. This involvement is essential for future research, conservation measures, and potentially also carefully managed nature tourism.

Three bird species rediscovered in just 17 days demonstrate what targeted fieldwork can accomplish—especially in remote mountain forests that have so far rarely been surveyed. Effective conservation begins there with closer observation, careful listening, and collaboration with local people.

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Sources

• BirdLife International. 2021. Accipiter brachyurus (errata version published in 2022). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T22695605A216248851. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22695605/216248851
• BirdLife International. 2024. Lorius albidinucha. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T22684603A259600750. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22684603A259600750.en
• BirdLife International. 2025. Philemon eichhorni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T22704221A264327030. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-2.RLTS.T22704221A264327030.en
• Daniel, E. (2026, June 16). FOUND: Three lost birds rediscovered in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, by Ornis x Lost Bird Grant Winners. Search for Lost Birds. https://searchforlostbirds.org/news/found-three-lost-birds-rediscovered-in-new-ireland-papua-new-guinea-by-ornis-x-lost-bird-grant-winners