The newly identified Tokara Leaf Warbler, the first new bird species formally named from Japan in over 40 years, has been identified as distinct from Iijima’s leaf Warbler. The discovery of this species was made using high-tech DNA tests and recordings of birdsong to identify a new species. The species lives on a few small volcanic islands on the Tokara Islands, which are often threatened by nature. It was discovered after detailed genetic work revealed that the birds had been isolated for about 3 million years, evolved into a separate species that no one had officially named until now. The Tokara leaf warbler's discovery highlights hidden biodiversity and raises questions about how many other 'lookalike' creatures might still be hiding in existence. The bird spends most of its time hunting small insects and uses its fine bill to control populations in fragile forests.