A new species of a colourful bird has been discovered by a group of Irish students on the Wakatobi islands south of Sulawesi in Indonesia.

Trinity zoologist Sean Kelly was the lead author of the study which found that the particular breed of this tiny bird was different to that of the Grey-sided Flowerpecker

GREY-SIDED FLOWERPECKER

WAKITOBI FLOWERPECKER

"Despite looking similar to the Grey-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum) from mainland Sulawesi, Wakatobi Flowerpeckers are significantly larger and genetically distinct."

The students also warned that the new discovery could be under threat because of human involvement such as deforestation in the region.