Gallery: New Computer Model Uses DNA to Identify Earth's Most Distinctive Birds

  • Image may contain Animal and Bird
    01

    Oilbird

    Oilbird, the world's most evolutionarily distinct bird. *Image: Walter Jetz*
  • Image may contain Vegetation Plant Animal Bird Vulture Beak Vase Potted Plant Pottery Jar Fowl and Poultry
    02

    Hoatzin

    Hoatzin, the 3rd most evolutionarily-distinct species. Kate/[Flickr](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/43555660@N00/5479759823/)
  • Image may contain Animal Bird Eagle and Waterfowl
    03

    Magpie Goose

    Magpie goose, the 4th most evolutionarily distinct species. *Image: Lip Kee Yap/[Flickr](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/lipkee/4951833198/)*
  • Image may contain Menu Text and Diagram
    04

    ed-trees-full

    At left, an evolutionary tree of bird distinctiveness, with the 50 most-distinctive birds listed below. At right, a tree and list of birds that are distinct and in danger of going extinct. Number bars at bottom denote millions of years separating each species from its nearest relative. *Image: Jetz et al./Current Biology*
  • Image may contain Bird Animal Stork Crane Bird and Waterfowl
    05

    Secretarybird

    Secretarybird, the 5th most evolutionarily distinct species. *Image: Ian White/[Flickr](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/ian_white/4322798234/)*
  • Image may contain Bird Animal Plant Vegetation Beak and Pelican
    06

    Shoebill stork

    Shoebill stork, the 14th most evolutionarily-distinct species. *Image: Heather Paul/[Flickr](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/warriorwoman531/7652974734)*
  • Image may contain Bird Animal and Accipiter
    07

    Cuckoo Roller

    Cuckoo-roller, the 2nd most evolutionarily distinct species. *Image: Frank Wouters/[Flickr](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/frank-wouters/64314402)*
  • Image may contain Animal Bird and Beak
    08

    Kagu

    Kagu, the 2nd most evolutionarily distinct-and-imperiled species. *Image: Frank Wouters/[Flickr](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/frank-wouters/150279152/in/photolist-ehdKS-ePRnTm-4cRiJt-4cHQ2S-4UfBQk-6daMXa)*
  • Image may contain Plot Diagram Map and Atlas
    09

    conservation-targets

    Areas of conservation importance for saving evolutionary distinctivess. Each dot corresponds to roughly 60 by 60 miles. *Image: Jetz et al./Current Biology*
  • Image may contain Animal Bird Partridge Grouse and Ground
    10

    Plains-wanderer

    Plains-wanderer, the 4th most evolutionarily distinct-and-imperiled species. *Image: Ron Knight/[Flickr](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/sussexbirder/8079596095/in/photolist-bmFcTw-diY3qX-diY3we)*
  • Image may contain Animal Bird Beak Land Outdoors Nature and Water
    11

    Australian Painted Snipe

    Australian painted snipe, the 14th most evolutionarily distinct-and-imperiled species. *Image: Patrick\_K59/[Flickr](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/patrick_k59/8470799026/in/photolist-dUx4r5-dQDDLd-bmFekY-kFMz4x)*
  • Image may contain Bird Animal Vulture Condor and Flying
    12

    California Condor

    California condor, the 5th most evolutionarily distinct-and-imperiled species. *Image: USFWS/[Flickr](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/usfws_pacificsw/5057204597)*
Read More
Top Design Within Reach Promo Codes for April 2026
Get 30% off, 20% off, and free shipping with our Design Within Reach coupon codes, plus up to 50% off furniture with these special discounts.
Nena Farrell
Target Promo Codes for April 2026
Get $50 off your next order or up to 50% off site wide with Target coupon codes and Circle deals.
Molly Higgins
Save With Our KitchenAid Promo Codes This April
Save on every purchase with top KitchenAid coupons from WIRED, including up to 20% off countertop appliances.
Molly Higgins
Top Sam's Club Promo Codes and Membership Deals for April 2026
Save on bulk groceries, household essentials, and electronics with a verified Sam's Club promo code or membership discount.
Molly Higgins
US Special Forces Soldier Arrested for Polymarket Bets on Maduro Raid
The master sergeant allegedly used classified intel to profit on the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, marking the first US arrest for insider trading on a prediction market.
Kate Knibbs
Newly Deciphered Sabotage Malware May Have Targeted Iran’s Nuclear Program—and Predates Stuxnet
Researchers have finally cracked Fast16, mysterious code capable of silently tampering with calculation and simulation software. It was created in 2005—and likely deployed by the US or an ally.
Andy Greenberg
Rednote Draws a Line Between China and the World
As the platform expands abroad, it’s taking steps to separate Chinese users from the international audiences it once brought together.
Zeyi Yang
Apple’s Next Chapter, SpaceX and Cursor Strike a Deal, and Palantir’s Controversial Manifesto
In this week’s episode of Uncanny Valley, we talk about Tim Cook’s legacy as CEO at Apple and what his long-rumored departure means for the future of one of the world's biggest companies.
Brian Barrett
At 'AI Coachella,' Stanford Students Line Up to Learn From Silicon Valley Royalty
CS 153 has gone viral on the Palo Alto campus—and on X. Not everyone is happy about it.
Maxwell Zeff
Palantir Employees Are Starting to Wonder if They're the Bad Guys
Interviews with current and former Palantir employees, along with internal Slack messages obtained by WIRED, suggest a workforce in turmoil.
Makena Kelly
This Is the Only Office Lamp That Does Double Duty on My Nightstand
Portable lamps are rarely, if ever, as powerful, precise, and multipurpose as the Lume Cube Edge Light Go.
Matthew Korfhage
These New Smart Glasses From Ex-OnePlus Engineers Have a Hidden Cost
The Kickstarter-funded glasses from L'Atitude 52°N have AI features bundled for one year, but the company doesn't know yet how much it will charge for access after that.
Boone Ashworth