Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 February 6

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A male and a female Huia

The Huia, which became extinct in the early 20th century, was the largest species of New Zealand wattlebird. It belonged to a family found only in New Zealand, one so ancient that no relation is found elsewhere. Already rare before Europeans arrived in New Zealand, it was confined to some mountain ranges in the south east of the North Island. It had deep metallic, bluish-black plumage with a greenish iridescence on the upper surface, especially about the head. It was remarkable for having the most pronounced sexual dimorphism in bill shape of any species of bird in the world. The female's beak was long, thin and arched downward, while the male's was short and stout. The last confirmed sighting was in 1907. Its extinction had two main causes: overhunting to procure Huia skins for mounted specimens for museums and private collectors, and widespread deforestation by European settlers to create agricultural pasture. The Huia is one of New Zealand's best known extinct birds because of its bill shape, its sheer beauty and special place in Māori culture and oral tradition. Māori regarded the bird as tapu (sacred), and the wearing of its skin or feathers was reserved for people of high status. (Full article...)

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  • In the news

    Portrait of Richard III of England
  • Archaeologists identify human remains found in Leicester as those of Richard III of England (pictured).
  • In American football, the Baltimore Ravens defeat the San Francisco 49ers to win Super Bowl XLVII.
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  • Queen Beatrix announces that she will abdicate the Dutch throne at the end of April.
  • In tennis, Victoria Azarenka wins the Women's Singles and Novak Djokovic wins the Men's Singles at the Australian Open.

    Recent deaths: Chris KyleEd KochPatty Andrews

  • On this day...

    February 6: Sami National Day (Sami people); Waitangi Day in New Zealand (1840)

    King Otto of Greece

  • 1820 – Sponsored by the American Colonization Society, the first African American emigrants departed New York to establish a settlement in present-day Liberia.
  • 1833Otto (pictured) became the first modern King of Greece.
  • 1862Union forces earned one of their first important victories in the American Civil War at the Battle of Fort Henry in western Tennessee.
  • 1958British European Airways Flight 609, carrying the Manchester United football club, a number of their fans and journalists covering the team, crashed while attempting to take off from Munich-Riem Airport in Munich, West Germany, killing eight players and 15 others.
  • 2000Second Chechen War: Russia captured Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, forcing the separatist Chechen government into exile.

    More anniversaries: February 5 February 6 February 7

    It is now February 6, 2013 (UTC) – Reload this page
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    Ronald Reagan

    Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) wearing a cowboy hat at his vacation home in Rancho del Cielo. Reagan, a former actor, bought the ranch towards the end of his term as Governor of California. He and his wife Nancy would use the ranch throughout his presidency and into the 1990s.

    Photo: Michael Arthur Worden Evans; Restoration: Peter Weis

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