570 vanished lives

03Recently extinct

A flightless Mauritian pigeon, about 70 cm tall and typically estimated at 10–14 kg. Compare its size, surviving evidence and extinction history.

25Recently extinct

Flocks once darkened the sky, yet abundance could not protect a species dependent on immense colonies.

26Recently extinct

This flightless North Atlantic seabird used its wings as powerful underwater paddles.

28Recently extinct

One of the tallest birds ever known browsed forests without wings of any kind.

29Recently extinct

The largest known eagle evolved to strike moa many times its own weight.

76Recently extinct

Bright green flocks once made this the only parrot native to the eastern United States.

77Recently extinct

Males and females had dramatically different bills but foraged as a pair.

78Recently extinct

These massive flightless birds laid the largest eggs known from any vertebrate.

99Recently extinct

This small sea duck had a specialized bill for feeding in shallow coastal water.

338Recently extinct

This tall flightless island bird was closer to megapodes than its heavy build suggested.

339Recently extinct

Powerful legs and a heavy bill belonged to a flightless ground forager.

340Recently extinct

A flightless ibis turned thickened wrist bones into club-like weapons.

463Recently extinct

Emeus crassus was a medium-sized, flightless moa with a bulky body and short, robust legs.

464Recently extinct

This giant flightless pigeon fought with bony wing knobs and was the dodo's closest relative.