Peru claims global record for bird diversity

According to a report from Peru's government on Thursday, the country now has the greatest diversity of bird species on Earth.

After identifying 19 new species in the Amazon rainforest, and with a total of 1,879 species, the new count puts Peru ahead of neighbours Colombia and Brazil.

The announcement is yet to be verified by the South American Classification Committee (SACC), associated with the International Ornithologists' Union.