Researchers found the bird in a 250-acre (101-hectare) reserve next to the Torcoroma Holy Sanctuary near the Colombian town of Ocaña, where in 1709 locals claimed they saw the image of the Virgin Mary in a tree root. The forests of the sanctuary have been protected by Catholic Church authorities in the centuries since.
The researchers also found and photographed the extremely rare Perija Parakeet, of which only 30 to 50 individuals likely survive. Deforestation and wildfires for agriculture and grazing have denuded much of the birds' habitat, conservationists say.
"As more and more remote areas are being settled, the Bushbird reminds us how important it is to conserve as much natural habitat as we can," said Paul Salaman of the American Bird Conservancy.
"Who knows what wonderful biodiversity is being destroyed before it has had a chance to be discovered?"