![\"Camera](\"https:\/\/cdn.sci.news\/images\/enlarge13\/image_14441e-Ptilorrhoa-urrissia.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nCamera trap images of the holotype and two paratypes of Ptilorrhoa urrissia, taken during a 3-month sampling period in a high-density array covering 0.5\u2009ha: the holotype (a-c, marked \u2018h\u2019 in a) and one paratype (a and d, marked \u2018p\u2019 in a), putative adult female and juvenile with female-type plumage, respectively, were photographed together on January 1, 2020; the images shown are part of a sequence of 20 photographs taken over a period of 87\u2009s; the putative adult male paratype (e) was photographed less than 40\u2009m away on March 8, 2020. Image credit: Woxvold et al., doi: 10.1111\/ibi.70016.<\/p>\n
The newly-identified species belongs to Ptilorrhoa<\/a>, a small bird genus within the family Cinclosomatidae<\/a>.<\/p>\n Commonly known as jewel-babblers, these birds are endemic to New Guinea.<\/p>\n \u201cThe jewel-babblers are a group of ground-dwelling, insectivorous passerines endemic to New Guinea and a few satellite land-bridge islands,\u201d said Australian Museum Research Institute ornithologist Iain Woxvold and colleagues.<\/p>\n \u201cPlump and short-winged, they have a black mask, white throat or cheek patch and soft plumage that in most species is patterned in blue and\/or chestnut.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are vocal but shy birds of the forest interior, more often heard than seen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFour species are currently recognized, three of which occupy most of New Guinea but segregate by altitude: the blue jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa caerulescens) in the lowlands, the chestnut-backed jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa castanonota) in the hills and lower mountains, and the spotted jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa leucosticta) in montane forest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe fourth species, the brown-headed jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa geislerorum), occurs in two widely separated areas \u2014 in the hills and lowlands of northeast Papua New Guinea and a recently discovered population (presumed to be this species) far to the west on Yapen Island.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2017, Dr. Woxvold and his colleague, Leo Legra of Lihir Gold Limited, established a biennial camera trap monitoring study of ground-dwelling birds and mammals on Iagifu Ridge (uri [mount] urrissia in the local Fasu language), a forested limestone anticline located at the southeastern end of the Agogo Range in Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n In their image collection, they observed a distinctive, undescribed form of jewel-babbler.<\/p>\n \u201cOver a period of more than 1,800 camera days, 10 images of the bird were obtained in three sequences (trigger \u2018events\u2019) taken on two cameras that were separated by c. 600\u2009m and an unsealed access road,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn November 2018, we spent 8\u2009days mist-netting and searching for the bird without reward.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCamera trap monitoring was repeated in 2019, 2021 and 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOverall, 94 photographs (22 sequences) and seven 30-s videos (four sequences) involving at least three to six birds were taken on 11 cameras covering an area of 16\u2009ha.\u201d<\/p>\n The examination of museum specimens and field photographic material confirmed that the birds the authors photographed are distinct from all other known Ptilorrhoa forms.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on these findings, we propose that the birds photographed on Iagifu Ridge represent a new species, which we name: the hooded jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa urrissia),\u201d they said.<\/p>\n Ptilorrhoa urrissia appears to be permanently resident on Iagifu Ridge, birds having been photographed in each of 10 consecutive months (June-March) over a period of 7\u2009years.<\/p>\n The total number of the new species detected over the period of sampling is probably fewer than 10 birds.<\/p>\n \u201cJewel-babblers are normally observed as single birds, pairs or in small family parties of three or four,\u201d the researchers said.<\/p>\n \u201cAvailable data indicate a similar pattern of social organization in Ptilorrhoa urrissia: duos were regularly photographed together and most records (all but three sequences of a single male) were collected from a 7-ha area and potentially involve a sedentary pair plus one offspring in each of two breeding events.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe speculate that Iagifu Ridge may support part of a highly fragmented population that occupies isolated low mountains that do not support Ptilorrhoa leucosticta of higher elevations,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n \u201cPotentially suitable sites may be restricted to the area between Mt Bosavi and Mt Karimui in southern Papua New Guinea.\u201d<\/p>\n No song clearly attributable to any Ptilorrhoa other than Ptilorrhoa castanonota has been heard on Iagifu Ridge by the team.<\/p>\n The new species appears to be less vocal than Ptilorrhoa caerulescens and Ptilorrhoa castanonota and behaviorally closer to Ptilorrhoa leucosticta in this respect.<\/p>\n \u201cJewel-babblers on Iagifu Ridge face a variety of threats,\u201d the scientists said.<\/p>\n \u201cNative predators confirmed present include at least three marsupials \u2014 the New Guinea quoll (Dasyurus albopunctatus), the Woolley\u2019s three-striped dasyure (Myoictis leucura) and one or more Murexia species \u2014 plus several avian predators including the Papuan eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae), the gray-headed goshawk (Tachyspiza poliocephala) and the greater sooty owl (Tyto tenebricosa), each of which takes prey from the ground and may consume adult birds or their young.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlien predators pose an additional and potentially serious threat, particularly to ground-nesting species such as jewel-babblers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDomestic cats (Felis catus) were camera trapped on Iagifu Ridge on three occasions in 2021 and 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDogs (Canis familiaris) are also regularly detected at the site, either in the company of hunters or as free-roaming individuals and small packs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFinally, climate change poses a serious threat to tropical montane birds, particularly those with low dispersal ability that lack access to higher elevations such as Ptilorrhoa urrissia at Iagifu Ridge.\u201d<\/p>\n