Declaring a bird extinct: The median wait is 36 years after the last sighting

Bird species are typically declared extinct 36 years after the last confirmed sighting. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the primary organization responsible for maintaining the list of extinct species. The IUCN uses a set of criteria to determine extinction, including a thorough search for the species in its known range. If no sightings or evidence of the species are found after 36 years, it is declared extinct. However, the process can take longer if new evidence emerges or if the species is rediscovered.