Birds (Update: 22-Nov-11)

NOTE:  Text and distribution maps from A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines by Kennedy, et al. 2000.  Species with (?) need further evidence/verification.  We encourage our students to submit their own field sightings and include them in this list but with a (?).  Other species with a (?) have been noted through calls and/or have only been briefly/poorly sighted.

CITATION: Photos from Mr. Alain Pascua (KAAKBAY, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines) were taken in the wild with the birds in their natural habitat.  Website sources are indicated in each photo.

Species richness: 67 

Certain ID: 58

Uncertain ID: 9

# Endemics (certain ID) only: 17 (29% endemicity)

Download Bird List (pdf format)

—–Eagles—–

Crested Serpent-Eagle (?) (Spilornis cheela)

Resident: Common, soaring over forest from lowlands to over 2000 m.  Holds wings slightly forward and with slight dihedral.  Underwing has diagnostic broad white band near trailing edge.

—–Junglefowl—–

Red Junglefowl (?) (Gallus gallus) Resident:Common in forest and fores edge up to 2000 m where it forages and nests on the forest floor.  Solitary.

—–Buttonquail—–

Barred Buttonquail (Turnix suscitator) Resident: Common in drier grasslands and scrub, often seen along highways or on dirt roads where they forage in the open on the ground.

Spotted Buttonquail (?) (Turnix ocellata) Endemic: Common in scrub, open dry forest, bamboo, rarely in grass.  Secretive, forages in forest leaf litter, along forested roads and at edge of shrubs, up to 2200 m.

—–Rails, Crakes, Waterhens, Bush-hens—–

Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)

Resident: Common in wide range of habitats from edges of wetlands, gardens and drier cogon grasslands from lowlands to mountians.  Shy, but conspicuous, foraging along and crossing roads early or late in the day.

Plain Bush-hen (Amaurornis olivaceus)

Endemic: Common but difficult to see in drier grasslands and scrub.  Unmistakable, large, all dark rail with lime green bill.  More often heard calling from dense grass or cover.

White-Breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) Resident: Common in wetter areas than Plain Bush-hen, from grasslands to marshes and mangroes.  More conspicuous than most rails coming into open at water’s edge, or along roads.

White-browed Crake (Porzana cinerea) Resident: Common in wide variety of wetlands from ricefields to tidal marshes and edges to lakes.  Not as shy as other rails, often seen at edges to vegetation.

—–Pigeons, Doves—–

Amethyst Brown-Dove (?) (Phapitreron leucotis) Endemic: Common locally, in forest and forest edge.  May be found in the lowlands but prefers middle and higher elevations from 500 to 2000 m in primary and secondary forest.  Usually solitary or in pairs in the canopy.

Note(s): The birds were seen kept in captivity by a local who claimed that they were caught in the watershed.  The local was eventually convinced to release the birds.

Common Emerald-Dove (Chalcophaps indica) Resident: Common, shy, in forests from early second growth to virgin forest up to about 1000 m.  Usually seen flying low through forest, down trails and logging roads or over clearings.  Emerald green wings and the 2-broad whitish grey bars on lower back and rump are diagnostic.

Pompadour Green-Pigeon (Treron pompadora)

Resident: Uncommon in forest and forest patches from lowlands to at least1000 m.  Usually in groups that may travel widely in response to locally fruiting trees.

Reddish Cuckoo-Dove (?) (Macropygia phasianella)

Resident: Common in wide variety of habitats from lowland forest patches to montane mossy forest, singly or in pairs.  Flies low and fast over clearings or through forest.  Reddish plumage and very long tail are diagnostic.

Note(s): Sightings were always too far away and contra luz to be certain.

White-Eared Brown Dove (Phapitreron leucotis) Endemic: Common in a wide range of habitats from early second growth to montane forest to 1600 m, singly or in pairs.

Spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis)

Resident: Common and expanding its range, in open country and agricultural areas, particularly in road beds.  Forages on the ground.

Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata) Resident: Common in open country, cultivated areas, and gardens, in trees and on the ground, and particularly on dirt roads.  When flushed, flies off low in charateristic fluttering fight.

—–Cuckoos, Malkohas, Coucals—–

Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis)

Resident: Common in grassland and open country, almost never in forest, skulking through dense foliage, often perched at top of grass.

Philippine Coucal (Centropus viridis)

Endemic: Common from grasslands to forest up to 2000 m.  Alone or in pairs, shy and difficult to see.  Shy and difficult to see except when perched in open on top of grass or small tree.  Has floppy flight and skulks through dense vegetation.

Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus)

Resident: Common in low to middle elevation forest, edge scrub and clearings. 

Scale-feathered Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus cumingi)

Endemic: Fairly common in forest, edge and second growth up to 2000 m, singly or in small groups.  Skulks through dense understory, moving up dense vines, making short flights.

—–Owls—–

Philippine Eagle-Owl (Bubo philippensis)

Endemic: Uncommon, poorly known, occurs in forest and forest edge often near water an in coconut plantations with patches of second growth.

Philippine Scops-Owl (Otus megalotis)

Endemic: Common in forest and forest edge in the lowlands below 1000 m but in pine forest up to 2000 m.

—–Nightjars—–

Philippine Nightjar (Caprimulgus manillensis)

Endemic: Uncommon in scrub, second growth, and pine forest up to 2000 m.  Roosts and nests on the ground.  Forages at twilight and at night from the ground and exposed branches.  May be in roads near forest.

 —–Swifts, Swiftlets—–

Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta)

Resident: Common, most conspicuous swiftlet ranging from sea coasts to mountains, flies low over forest, streams, clearings, and roads.  Blue black upperparts and whitish belly diagnostic.

Pygmy swiftlet (Collocalia troglodytes)

Endemic: Fairly common, smallest swiftlet found in groups flying low over forest and clearings and logging roads.  Flies with, but usually higher than, more common Glossy Swiftlet.

—–Kingfishers—–

Indigo-Banded Kingfisher (Acebedo cyanopectus)

Endemic: Uncommon, restricted to clear freshwater streams up to at least 1500m, singly or in pairs.  Perches on rocks or on branches, diving head first to catch fish.  Flies very fast low over water between perches.

Spotted Wood-Kingfisher (Actenoides lindsayi)

Endemic: Fairly common in lowland forest understory, perches motionless in dark recesses, singly or in pairs.  Body is spotted above and below.  Note dark green cap and turqoise border above black eyestripe and around nape.

White-collared Kingfisher (Halcyon chloris) Resident: Most common and conspicuous of all Philippine kingfishers from exposed coral flats to towns and perched on telephone wires in open country, rarely in forest.

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

Resident: Fairly common in clearings, along large streams and rivers and in open country, in the lowlands below 1000 m.  Perches 5 to 10 m above ground or river on branches, even on telephone wires.

—–Bee-eaters—–

Blue-tailed Bee-eater (?) (Merops philippinus) Resident: Fairly common in open country usually associated with water along rivers, marshes and ricefields.  Hunts from exposed perches flying out to catch insects or by flying back and forth.  Nests in colonies in river banks or cliffs.

—–Woodpeckers—–

Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos maculatus)

Endemic: Common in lowland and montance forest and edge, in understory and canopy, often in mixed flocks foraging up branches and trees.  Smallest Philippine woodpecker.

—–Pittas—–

Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida)

Resident: More common than similar-sized Red-bellied Pitta and found in drier habitats from scrub to second growth forest.  Only Philippine pitta with an all black head.

Red-bellied Pitta (Pitta erythrogaster)

Resident: Fairly common, foraging on the ground from scrub to virgin forest usually below 1000 m.

—–Swallows—–

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Migrant: Abundant visitor recorded from late Jul to early Jun in range of habitats from coast to above the forest in high mountains.  Fast graceful flyer that may be close to the ground or high in the sky.

Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)

Resident: Common throughout Philippines along coasts, in towns, and in open country, rarely over forest, but often associated with water.  Often nests in eaves of houses and buildings.

—–Trillers, Minivets—–

Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus)

Migrant: Uncommon and sporadic migrant, more common in Northern Luzon.  Travels in noisy flocks, flitting through the canopy of second growth and more open forest.

Pied Triller (Lalage nigra)

Resident: Common in trees in open country, gardens in towns and open scrub, singly or in pairs, in the lowlands.

—–Bulbuls—–

Philippine Bulbul (Hypsipetes philippinus)

Endemic: Common, noisy and conspicuous in forest edge, advances secondary growth, forest, from the lowlands to over 2000 m, sometimes singly but usually in groups or mixed flocks.

Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) Resident: Common in gardens, scrub, and early second growth, never in mature forest, either alone or in small groups.  Note the broad white eyebrow and yellow undertail coverts, both diagnostic.

—–Orioles—–

Black-naped oriole (Oriolus chinensis)

Resident: Common and widespread in early second growth, open scrub and gardens, alone or in small groups.  Distinctive black and bright yellow plumage and large size separate it from other orioles.  Fairly tame and noisy, can be heard from far away.

—–Tits—–

Elegant Tit (Parus elegans)

Endemic: Common in all levels of the canopy from lowland to montane mossy forest.  Usually travels in family units or in mixed flocks, where it is one of the core species.

—–Magpie-Robin, Bushchat, Rock-thrush—–

Blue Rock-Thrush (?) (Monticola solitarius)

Migrant: Common through most of the Philippines as a migrant.  Conspicuous on rocky exposed slopes, road cuts and along rocky streams and river.

Note(s): Only one sighting on record and it was done from a distance.

Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)

Resident: Uncommon in all levels of second growth, cultivated areas, and bamboo thickets, in the lowlands.  Noisy and fairly conspicuous by its load musical song.

Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)

Resident: Common in drier open country, grasslands, and cultivated areas at all elevations.  Found singly or in pairs perched on exposed branches in small trees, and on telephone poles and lines.

—–Flyeaters, Warblers—–

Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis)

Migrant: Common with many races reaching the Philippines.  Found in a variety of forest types at all levels and all elevations.

Golden-bellied Flyeater (Gerygone sulphurea)

Resident: Common locally in open country, second growth, and mangroves, particularly apparent in residential areas in Manila.  Found singly or in pairs, prefers the crowns of trees.

Lemon-throated Leaf Warbler (?) (Phylloscopus luzonensis)

Endemic: Common, singly or in mixed flocks in forest from lowlands to 1800 m in middle and upper stories.

Note(s): The birds were seen too high up for ID to be certain.

—–Grassbirds—–

Striated Grassbird (Megalurus palustris)

Resident: Common in grasslands, ricefields, and open country.  Noisy and conspicuous, often sitting and calling exposed on tops of grasses, bushes, and telephone wires.

Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis)

Resident: Common in tall grass, shrubs in open areas, and early second growth up to 2000 m.  Noisy but shy, difficult to see except when perched on top of grass, bushes, and telephone wires.

—–Tailorbirds—–

Grey-backed Tailorbird (Orthotomus derbianus)

Endemic: Common in tangles and undergrowth in forest and edge, alone or in pairs.  Confined to central (north to Nueva Vizcaya Province) and southern Luzon.

—–Cisticolas—–

Bright-capped Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)

Resident: Common in drier grasslands, but also in ricefields.  Perches in open and performs high arched courtship flight.

—–Flycatchers, Fantails, Monarchs—–

Black-naped monarch (Hypothymis azurea)

Resident: Common resident all over Philippines.  Fairly noisy and conspicuous in disturbed forest, forest edge, and second growth in all stories, singly or in mixed flocks, usually below 1500 m.

Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta) Migrant: Common, conspicuously perches in tops of trees in forest, edge, and open areas, flying out to catch insects on the wing.

Mangrove Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis rufigastra) Resident: Common in understory less than 10 m from the ground in disturbed forest and early second growth, not in original forest, in the lowlands.  Alone or in pairs.

Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica)

Resident: Common in parks, residential areas, thickets, and mangroves, singly or in pairs.  Conspicuous by call.  Constantly flitting out of and among branches, fanning long white-tipped tail.

—–Wagtails, Pipits—–

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Migrant: Common along streams and wet forest roads at all elevations, alone or in pairs.  Wags tail while perched or walking.

Richard’s Pipit (?) (Anthus novaeseelandiae)

Resident: Common breeder, but migrants may occur.  Stays on the ground in open country, grasslands, ricefields, and parks.  Note long legs, upright posture, tail wagging and long thin bill.

Note(s): Only one sighting on record and the bird was well-hidden.

—–Wood-swallows, Shrikes—–

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)

Migrant: Common in all habitats at all elevations.  Recorded every month, but usually from mid-Sep to late May.  Perches in open on telephone wires or exposed limbs.

Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)

Resident: Common in open country and scrub where it perches conspicuously on bushes and dead trees, at all elevations.

White-breasted Wood-swallow (Artamus leucorynchus)

Resident: Common, from open country to clearings at forest edge up to 1800 m.  Often perches on telephone wires and exposed limbs of trees.  Feeds on the wing, flying out from a perch.

—–Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers—–

Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) Resident: Most common lowland sunbird in coconut plantations, second growth, scrub, and gardens below 1000 m.

Pygmy Flowerpecker (Dicaeum pygmaeum)

Endemic: Common, noisy and active in the canopy or high understory of forest, edge, and second growth, usually below 1000 m but recorded higher.

Red-keeled Flowerpecker (Dicaeum australe)

Endemic: Common in canopy of forests, edge, open couintry not far from forest.  Scarlet keel of adult unmistakable.

—–White-eyes, Sparrows, Munias—–

Chestnut Munia (Lonchura malacca)

Resident: Common in ricefields, grasslands, and open country.  Travels in tight flocks from 5 to 10 individuals up to several hundred.

Eurasion Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Resident: Introduced, common, on virtually every inhabited island in association with humans from cities to cultivation.. [quite rare along the river where it is possible not to have a single sighting during a transect of 300 meters]

Lowland White-eye (Zosterops meyeni)

Endemic: Common in lowlands in second growth, scrub, and gardens where travels in noisy conspicuous flocks.

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) Resident: Common locally, in ricefields, grasslands, gardens and scrub in flocks feeding on or near the ground, but will fly up to land in trees.

White-Bellied Munia (Lonchura leucogastra)

Resident: Common, ranging from forests to ricefields, singly or in groups on or near the ground or flying in tight flocks.