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/)*
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    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)*
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