The genus Pitohui includes several species, but not all of them are poisonous. The Hooded Pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) is the most well-known toxic species.
The toxicity in Pitohuis is derived from their diet, which includes Choresine beetles, the same source of poison found in poison dart frogs.
The bird's poison serves as a natural defense mechanism against predators, deterring them from eating or attacking the Pitohui.
The toxin found in Pitohuis is batrachotoxin, a potent neurotoxin that affects nerve function and can be fatal in high doses.
The Hooded Pitohui was the first documented poisonous bird, discovered by scientists in the 1980s and 1990s in Papua New Guinea.
The bright plumage of the Hooded Pitohui acts as a warning sign to potential predators about its toxicity, a phenomenon known as aposematism.
Local people in New Guinea are aware of the Pitohui's toxicity and take precautions when handling or preparing the bird for consumption, often avoiding the bird altogether.