Birds are one of the most common species on Earth, outnumbering humans by a 6 to 1 margin. Now, it appears that number will grow even larger as a new species of bird was recently discovered. Researchers at the University of North Texas were part of an international collaboration that helped reveal the Subantarctic Rayadito, located in the most southern part of Chile.
The UNT Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program has been working for the last seven years to demonstrate the Subantarctic Rayadito was a bird that has never been recorded by science. Researchers traveled far, taking two flights and a helicopter or boat ride each time, to find the bird located in Chile's Diego Ramirez Archipelago. “This is very, very remote. At the very southern, southern end of the American continent,” said Director of UNT Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program Ricardo Rozzi.
According to NBC DFW, the Rayadito is found near the Grey Headed Albatross, living at the base of their nests. “These Rayaditos eat everything around the nest, so they are cleaners of the nest," said Rozzi. Now the group hopes to discover even more unknown species in the area.
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