An Australian Songbird Losing its Song

An Australian Songbird Losing its Song

Top of Mind with Julie Rose - Season 1, Episode 1774 , Segment 3

Heart Attack Spider Venom, Oregon Trail, Regent Honeyeater

Episode: Heart Attack Spider Venom, Oregon Trail, Regent Honeyeater

  • May 11, 2022 6:00 am
  • 18:16

The regent honeyeater is a bright, yellow Australian songbird. It's very pretty and has a beautiful voice. But the bird is on the verge of extinction along with its signature song. Australian National University researcher Ross Crates says male honeyeaters are forgetting how to sing their species' song and are sounding like other birds. Crates, though, is helping the honeyeaters to find their original song. (Segment produced by Martha Harris)