Many bird species in Melanesia are extremely rare. Among the rarest are the New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles savesi) and Beck’s Petrel (Pseudobulweria becki). The New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar is known from the type specimen, taken in 1880 in Païta near the port town of Noumea and another specimen (recently discovered in an Italian museum). There are only a handful of sightings ever recorded, but most recently in 1998.

Beck's Petrel (Pseudobulweria becki) was known from only two specimens collected by Rollo Beck in 1928 and 1929 in Melanesian waters near New Ireland and Solomon Islands. A small number of sightings were documented between 2003 and 2008, suggesting that they may still be alive and breeding on nearby islands. Nothing is known of their ecology and breeding biology.

Both of these species are still believed by many to persist, despite few sightings. There are other species, such as the New Caledonian Lorikeet (Charmosyna diadema ­ known from two specimens collected in the mid 1800’s) which may also still persist, but there have been fewer suspected sightings. Nonetheless, there are relatively few birders who travel to these areas and even fewer adventurous ornithologists willing to study these and other Melanesian birds.

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