The Hooded Pitohui (Pitohui dichrous), found in the dense rainforests of New Guinea, is one of the very few birds on Earth armed with natural chemical weaponry. Dressed in vivid chestnut-orange plumage with a glossy black hood, it wears a living warning sign: “Do not touch.”

Its skin, feathers, and even muscle tissue contain batrachotoxin — a potent nerve poison also found in South America’s poison dart frogs. The source? Its diet, particularly toxic beetles. By storing this toxin in its body, the pitohui becomes an untouchable meal for predators.

Even a brief touch with bare hands can cause numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation on the skin. Yet beneath this chemical armor, the Hooded Pitohui lives a peaceful life, flitting through the canopy in small flocks, feeding on fruits, seeds, and insects.

Beautiful. Dangerous. Untouchable.