Blue-capped ifrita

The blue-capped ifrita (Ifrita kowaldi) is a small passerine bird native to the rain forests of New Guinea, and noted as one of the few birds which are toxic to the touch.

Blue-capped ifrita
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain	Eukaryota
Kingdom	Animalia
Subkingdom	Bilateria
Branch	Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum	Chordata
Sub-phylum	Vertebrata
Infraphylum	Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass	Tetrapoda
Class	Aves
Sub-class	Neornithes
Infra-class	Neoaves
Order Information
Superorder	Passerimorphae
Order	Passeriformes
Sub-order	Passeres
Family Information
Superfamily	Corvoidea
Family	Monarchidae
Sub-family	Cinclosomatinae
Genus Information
Genus	Ifrita
Species Information
Species	I. kowaldi
Population statistics
Population	Unknown
Conservation status	Least concern

Description

Ifritas are small, chunky birds, about 6.5 inches long. Males are brownish in color, and bear a light colored streak behind the eyes. A ring of iridescent blue feathers is on top of the head, hence the name. Females are similar, but more yellowish overall.

Ifritas secrete a toxin through their skin into their feathers, the touch leaving the handler feeling numb. A batrachotoxin, it is similar to secretions by South American poison dart frogs, and has led researchers to believe that the birds diet of certain insects - among them beetles of the genus Choresine - may provide them with the toxin.

Threats

The IUCN Red Data List has classified the blue-capped ifrita as "Least concern", based on a lack of threats either by humans or other animal species, and in part due to the bird's toxicity. To date, a reliable count of the population has not been made.