In 2007, the large-billed reed warbler was named the world’s least known bird. Recently, researchers discovered breeding pairs in Afghanistan. This is considered the only known range for this unknown warbler. The researchers found the birds in a place called Wakhan Corridor, which is in northeast Afghanistan and has been little affected by war. The researchers were apart of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Sweden’s Gothenburg University.
A variety of techniques were used to identify the birds, such as field observations, DNA examples, and specimens. About 20 birds were even caught and released.
This bird is not a recently discovered species as it was first noted in 1867. However, it would seem that the bird was all but lost except for its second discover in Thailand in 2006. Hardly anything is known about this species, which makes this new discover of breeding grounds so important.
Luckily, the bird was found in a location that has not felt the effects of war and could still hold biological secrets. The Wakhan Corridor houses snow leopards and wild Marco Polo sheep, along with the rare warbler.
