VIENTIANE, Laos, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A tiny colorful bird with a loud and distinctive sound has been discovered living in the forests of Laos and Vietnam, scientists said.
The bird has been nicknamed the "limestone leaf warbler" because it breeds in region of Laos known for its limestone deposits, scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society said in a release Tuesday.
The olive-green bird, with a yellow breast and striped crown, has a distinctive sound and is smaller with shorter wings and a larger bill than other warblers found in Southeast Asia, the scientific team wrote in the International Journal of Avian Science.
"The discovery of this new species is very exciting and underscores the importance of this region of Indochina for conservation," society spokesman Colin Poole said, calling the region the "Lost World for new and unusual wildlife."
While a healthy and sustainable population of the warblers is believed to exist, their habitat is threatened by logging in the region, Poole said.
