The Aldabra Brush Warbler (Nesillas aldabrana) is an extinct bird from the family of Old World Warblers (Sylviidae). Its was endemic to the Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles.

Description

This bird reached a total length of 18-20 cm. The wings were approximately 6.3 cm and the tail was 8.6 cm.

Discovery and extinction

The Aldabra Brush Warbler was discovered by British ornithologist Robert Prys-Jones from the Museum of Natural History in London in 1967 and described in 1968 by Constantine Walter Benson and Malcolm Penny on basis of a male, a female and a nest with 3 eggs. Juveniles were never found.

After the discovery the brush warbler left lost until a new survey was made by Prys-Jones from 1974 to 1976. At the end of 1975 he found six further birds which were all males. The birds were ringed and photographed.

Unfortunately in 1983 only one male was left and the Aldrabra Brush Warbler became the rarest and in its occurrence most restricted bird in the world. It was restricted to a 10 ha large coastal strip on the Aldabran island of Malabar. Following intensive surveys, the extinction of this bird was confirmed in 1986. It is listed as officially extinct by the IUCN since 1994.

The possible reasons for its extinction could be attributed to the presence of rats, cats and goats introduced to the atoll many years previously.