An analysis of evolutionary relationships between all of the world's known birds prioritizes some of them for conservation on the basis of their genetic uniqueness.

Walter Jetz of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, Arne Mooers of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada, and their colleagues examined the family tree of almost 10,000 bird species. They calculated the birds' evolutionary distinctness — a measure of a species' separation from others on the family tree. Birds that ranked high in distinctness and that occupy small ranges or are threatened with extinction include the giant ibis (Thaumatibis gigantea) and the kakapo, a flightless parrot (Strigops habroptilus).

Many of these birds live outside well-known biodiversity hotspots, suggesting that current conservation planning does not adequately cover these evolutionary rarities.

Curr. Biol. http://doi.org/r9f (2014)