This bird’s skin and feathers contain batrachotoxin — a super-strong neurotoxin. After physical contact with the pitohui, small animals usually die of paralysis and convulsions.

The toxicity of these birds comes from what they eat: bugs whose bodies are literally saturated with the aforementioned toxin. The bird eventually developed an immunity to it, but humans have not.

Nevertheless, an accidental meeting between the pitohui and humans is unlikely to end in tragedy. However, it’s not the best idea to touch the pitohui, because your fingers will get numb almost instantly and you’ll experience a prickly, pins and needles feeling. It’s likely that you will reflexively touch your face or your mouth, which will also go numb. After that, you’ll need medical help. However, so far no antidote exists.