Many bird species have vanished over the centuries, often because of human activity. Here is a look at some of the most famous extinct birds and what caused their loss.
The dodo and the great auk
The dodo is the most famous extinct bird, a large flightless pigeon relative from the island of Mauritius that died out in the late 1600s. Having evolved without predators, it was easy prey for sailors and the animals they brought ashore. The great auk was a large flightless seabird of the North Atlantic, hunted heavily for its feathers, meat and eggs until the last known pair was killed in 1844. See our types of birds guide.
The passenger pigeon and the moa
The passenger pigeon was once one of the most numerous birds on Earth, with flocks in North America numbering in the billions. Relentless hunting and habitat loss drove it to extinction, and the last bird, named Martha, died in 1914. The moa were giant flightless birds of New Zealand, some standing over 3 metres tall. They were hunted to extinction within a few centuries of human arrival on the islands, along with the huge eagle that preyed on them.
Common causes of extinction
Most bird extinctions share similar causes. Hunting by people, especially of large or flightless species, has wiped out many birds. Introduced animals such as rats, cats and pigs raid nests and eat eggs, which is devastating for island birds that never faced such threats. Habitat loss from farming and logging removes the food and shelter birds need. Often several of these pressures combine, pushing a species past the point of recovery.