New Bald Bird Discovered in Laos

A rare bald songbird has been discovered in the rocky limestone cliffs of central Laos.

Dubbed the “bare-faced bulbul” because of its unusual feather-free head, the newly discovered species is the only example of a bald songbird in Asia and the first new type of bulbul reported in the last hundred years.

It’s not clear how such a distinctive-looking bird escaped detection for so long, but the creature’s preference for rugged terrain probably played a role. The rocky limestone-dominated regions of Laos are generally uninhabitable by humans but home to a variety of unique animals, including new species of rabbit and rat discovered in the last decade.

No one knows exactly why this particular bulbul went bald, but scientists suspect its featherless face evolved as a way to attract mates.

Original article here.