A male olive-backed forest robin is examined in the hands of Brian Schmidt, the Smithsonian ornithologist who discovered the species during a biodiversity study in Gabon in this photo taken in September 2003. A red-breasted bird discovered by accident in the forests of Gabon is a new species, U.S. scientists said on August 15, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Scientists at the U.S. Smithsonian Institution have discovered a new species of bird in African country Gabon, that was, until now, unknown to the scientific community, according to the international science journal Zootaxa published Friday.

    The newly found olive-backed forest robin (Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus) was named by the scientists for its distinctive olive back and rump.

    Adult birds measure 4.5 inches (about 11.4 cms) in length and average 18 grams in weight. Males exhibit a fiery orange throat and breast, yellow belly, olive back and black feathers on the head. Females are similar, but less vibrant. Both sexes have a distinctive white dot on their face in front of each eye.

    To ensure that the specimens were a new species, geneticists at the Smithsonian's National Zoo compared the DNA of the new specimens to that of the four known forest robin species. The results clearly showed that these birds were in fact a separate and distinct species.

    Discovering an unknown mammal or bird species is far from a common event. Before the 20th century, the rate of discoveries was great -- several hundred new species were being described each decade. Since then, however, the pace has slowed and new species of vertebrates are generally only found in isolated areas.

    Now officially recognized, the olive-backed forest robin brings Gabon's number of known bird species to 753. Other than its existence, however, little is known to science about this newcomer.

    There is some knowledge about the species' habitat choice since all of the birds seen and heard in the wild were found in dense forest undergrowth. Other facts such as specific diet, mating and nesting habits, and the species' complete habitat range are all things that still need research.

Although not as vibrant as the male, the female olive-backed forest robin still exhibits a bright orange and yellow throat and the white dot in front of each eye that is distinctive to this species in this photo taken in September 2003. A red-breasted bird discovered by accident in the forests of Gabon is a new species, U.S. scientists said on August 15, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>