Scientists say Cambodian tailorbird is near threatened

A new species of bird has been discovered in the urbanised capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, as well as several locations in the city's outskirts.

The species, which has been named the Cambodian tailorbird, is wren-sized and grey, with a distinct plumage, a rufous cap and black throat.

The bird also has a loud call – perhaps down to the busy location it shares with 1.5 million people, rather than a remote jungle.

One of just two bird species that reside solely in Cambodia – the other being the Cambodian laughingthrush, found in the Cardamom Mountains – the tailorbird enjoys a dense, humid lowland scrub habitat.

The species is seen where the rivers Tonle Sap, Mekong and Bassac come together in the city, as well as other areas of the floodplain, including a construction site.

Discovered by the Wildlife Conservation Society, BirdLife International and other groups of scientists, the birds are described in the Oriental Bird Club's journal, Forktail.

The authors of the article explain that the Cambodian tailorbird's habitat is declining, and advise the species be classified as Near Threatened on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List.

They also say that it was the dense habitat that prevented the bird from being discovered for such a long time.

"Asia contains a spectacular concentration of bird life, but is also under sharply increasing threats," said Steve Zack, coordinator of bird conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

"Further work is needed to better understand the distribution and ecology of this exciting newly-described species to determine its conservation needs."