Research done by BirdLife International for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has found that 1,227 species of birds are now classified as globally threatened with extinction.

Of this number, 838 are listed in the Near Threatened Category, 363 species are listed as Endangered and 192 species of bird are listed as Critically Endangered (the highest threat category) on the latest Red List.

Nine new bird species have been added to the Critically Endangered list, including the recently discovered Gorgeted Puffleg (Eriocnemis isabellae), a flamboyantly colored hummingbird from Colombia. With only 1,200 hectares of its natural habitat in the cloud forests of the Pinche mountain range remaining, its chance for survival is slim.

Gorgeted Puffleg

And the Sidamo Lark from the Liben Plain of Ethopia, another bird species to make the critically endangered species list, could soon have the dubious honor of becoming Africa’s first bird extinction due to land use changes.

Sidamo Lark

While many bird species are disappearing, there’s some good news: six others appear to have found a new lease on life and have moved from the critically endangered list to endangered. Included in this list are the Chatham Petrel (Pterodroma axillaris) from New Zealand and Lear’s Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) from Brazil. Numbers of these birds have increased thanks to the combined efforts of conservation organizations, governments and local landowners.

Hoping to make a difference, BirdLife International is working with global network of independent nature conservation organisations operating in more than 100 countries to save the birds.

Find out more about BirdLife’s Preventing Extinctions Programme and how you can help here.

Images: law_keven, Treehugger, IUCN