A string of recent sightings of one of South America’s most unusual and secretive birds, one absent for over 40 years, is giving conservationists hope. The distinctive up-turned bill of Clytoctantes alixii earns it the nickname of “smiling bird.” Check out these photos to see why!

Written by Mike
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.