THE PHILIPPINES   -   FEB-MAR 2011

Philippine Duck Anas luzonica Candaba Marsh, Pampanga province, Luzon, the Philippines. Endemic to the Philippines. (S6)

Philippine Duck Anas luzonica Bislig, Surigao del Sur province, Mindanao, the Philippines. (S6)

Palawan Peacock-Pheasant Polyplectron napoleonis Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, the Philippines. Male. Endemic to the island of Palawan and the only pheasant in the Philippines. This bird is habituated and comes in to the ranger station every morning. (S6f)

Philippine Serpent-Eagle Spilornis holospilus Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon province, Mindanao, the Philippines. Very similar to Crested Serpent-Eagle S. cheela, which it was split from. It differs mainly in the lack of white in the crest, more gray on the throat, and larger spots on the belly. (S6)

White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna province, Luzon, the Philippines. White this species occurs in numerous places in Asia and Australasia, it seems especially common and easy to see in the Philippines. (S6)

Malaysian Plover Charadrius peronii Sabang, Palawan, the Philippines. This species occurs locally in SE Asia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. (S6)

White-eared Dove Phapitreron leucotis leucotis Mt. Makiling, Laguna province, Luzon, the Philippines. Often called White-eared Brown Dove. There are three brown doves (Phapitreron) and the genus is endemic to the Philippines. This species is the most common and widespread. (S6)

Black-chinned Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus leclancheri gironieri Puerto Princesa-Narra highway, Palawan, Philippines. Nearly endemic to the Philippines, but also occurs on Lan-yü Island off of Taiwan. (S6)

Australasian Grass-Owl Tyto longimembris amauronota Bislig, Surigao del Sur province, Mindanao, the Philippines. It started hunting over the marsh about half an hour before sunset - a great way to see an owl! (S6)

Philippine Frogmouth Batrachostomus septimus septimus Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon province, Mindanao, the Philippines. One of my trip favorites. Asian frogmouths are really beautiful birds. I've heard that the Asian frogmouths may be separated from the Australasian frogmouths into a new family, the Batrachostomidae. (S6f)

Indigo-banded Kingfisher Ceyx cyanopectus cyanopectus University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna province, Luzon, the Philippines. The Philippines have some stunning endemic kingfishers, this being one of them, found in the northern and central islands of the archipelago. (S6)

Southern Silvery-Kingfisher Ceyx argentatus PICOP, Surigao del Sur province, Mindanao, the Philippines. This little gem is one of the most beautiful birds in all of the Philippines. It seemed to glow next to the muddy little pool that it made its home. I digiscoped it hendheld with only mediocre results. This trip to the Philippines convinced me that I have to do whatever it takes to get a new digiscoping setup to replace the old Samsung that I used to use. Hand-holding just doesn't cut it! (D6)

Southern Silvery-Kingfisher Ceyx argentatus PICOP, Surigao del Sur province, Mindanao, the Philippines. Same bird seen from the rear. (D6)

Rufous-lored Kingfisher Todiramphus winchelli mindanensis PICOP, Surigao del Sur province, Mindanao, the Philippines. A very distant shot of another endemic kingfisher. (S6)

Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis americanus Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Luzon, the Philippines. (S6)

Palawan Hornbill Anthracoceros marchei Puerto Princesa-Sabang highway, Palawan, the Philippines. Also found on a few other small islands in the SW Philippines. (S6)

Rufous Hornbill Buceros hydrocorax mindanensis PICOP, Surigao del Sur province, Mindanao, the Philippines. In flight it is hard to appreciate the colors of this bird. In many areas it has been wiped out due to habitat loss and hunting. Amazingly in PICOP, which is under severe pressure, they are still relatively common, though sadly that is not likely to last. (S6)

Rufous Hornbill Buceros hydrocorax mindanensis PICOP, Surigao del Sur province, Mindanao, the Philippines. This is a juvenile, very pale brown overall. It was nice to see they are still breeding in the heavily logged PICOP area. (S6)

Luzon Hornbill Penelopides manillae Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Luzon, the Philippines. Male. This species, as well as the other four Penelopides in the Philippines, used to be lumped as Tarictic Hornbill P. panini. The species differ mainly in the color of the underparts of the males and tail pattern. This species also occurs on a few small islands near Luzon. (S6)		Luzon Hornbill Penelopides manillae Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Luzon, the Philippines. Female. (S6)

Mindanao Hornbill Penelopides affinis affinis Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon province, Mindanao, the Philippines. Female. Another of the Tarictic Hornbill P. panini splits. It also occurs on nearby islands. (S6)

Spot-throated Flameback Dinopium everetti Iwahig Penal Colony, Palawan, the Philippines. Male above, female below. Recently split from Common Flameback D. javanense (it has much less prominent head stripes), so this species is now endemic to Palawan and a few nearby islands. (S6)

Luzon Flameback Chrysocolaptes haematribon Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Luzon, the Philippines. Male. Recently split from Greater Flameback. It is endemic to Luzon and several nearby small islands. (S6)

Azure-breasted Pitta Pitta steerii steerii PICOP, Surigao del Sur province, Mindanao, the Philippines. Also called Steere's Pitta, and one of the star birds of the Philippines. It's endemic, and not even that hard to see compared to some other pittas, singing from elevated perches at dawn. (S6f)

White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus leucorynchus Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Luzon, the Philippines. Male. (S6)

Bar-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina striata striata Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Luzon, the Philippines. Male. Widespread in SE Asia, but it seems especially easy to see in the Philippines. (S6)

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach nasutus University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna province, Luzon, the Philippines. A common resident in open habitats. This subspecies, with a pale gray back, is endemic to the Philippines. (S6)

Gray-capped Shrike Lanius validirostris validirostris Mt. Polis, Ifugao province, Luzon, the Philippines. Often called Mountain Shrike. It's endemic to the mountains of the larger Philippine islands. (S6)

Black-and-cinnamon Fantail Rhipidura nigrocinnamomea hutchinsoni Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon province, Mindanao, the Philippines. This beauty is endemic to the island of Mindanao, where it mainly follows mixed species flocks in montane forest. (S6)

Yellow-wattled Bulbul Pycnonotus urostictus philippensis PICOP, Surigao del Sur province, Mindanao, the Philippines. This Philippine endemic is named after its big bare yellow eyering. (S6)

Philippine Bulbul Ixos philippinus philippinus Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Luzon, the Philippines. One of the most common birds in wooded areas of the Philippines. It can tolerate a lot habitat modification, but still needs a few trees to persist. (S6)

Mountain Warbler Phylloscopus trivirgatus benguetensis Mt. Polis, Ifugao province, Luzon, the Philippines. Usually called Mountain Leaf-Warbler. The Philippine races are quite different and may deserve to be split. (S6)

Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni rabori Mt. Polis, Ifugao province, Luzon, the Philippines. Male. A widespread species occuring from the Himalayas all the way east to the Philippines. (S6)

Island Flycatcher Eumyias panayensis nigrimentalis Mt. Polis, Ifugao province, Luzon, the Philippines. Found on the Philippines as well as various other islands to the west and southwest. The amount of black on the face varies racially. This subspecies, endemic to the northern Philippines, has quite an obvious black mask. (S6)

Palawan Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis lemprieri Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, the Philippines. Male. Also found on the nearby Philippine islands of Balabac and Calamian. (S6f)

White-vented Shama Copsychus niger Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, the Philippines. Endemic to the Philippines, where it occurs on Palawan and other nearby islands. (S6f)

Luzon Redstart Rhyacornis bicolor Mt. Polis, Ifugao province, Luzon, the Philippines. A bad digiscoped shot in bright sunlight. This bird is endemic to the mountains of Luzon, where it only occurs along fast-moving streams and rivers. (D6)

Chestnut-faced Babbler Stachyris whiteheadi whiteheadi Mt. Polis, Ifugao province, Luzon, the Philippines. A very distinctive species endemic to the mountains of Luzon. It's locally very common, with large groups moving alone or with other species in mixed flocks. (S6)

Mountain White-eye Zosterops montanus vulcani Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon province, Mindanao, the Philippines. One of several subspecies endemic to the Philippines. A taxonomic revision seems possible due to plumage variations within the species. (S6)

Apo Myna Basilornis mirandus Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon province, Mindanao, the Philippines. Endemic to Mindanao; I thought it was one of coolest birds in the Philippines. This poor digiscoped photos hardly does it justice. They travel in large, noisy flocks and like to perch in the open on dead snags. (D6)

Coleto Sarcops calvus calvus Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Luzon, the Philippines. Another very neat endemic starling. The pink patch on the head is bare skin. (S6)

Stripe-sided Rhabdornis Rhabdornis mysticalis mysticalis Mt. Makiling, Laguna province, Luzon, the Philippines. The Rhabdornises, sometimes called the Philippine Creepers, are currently considered to be an endemic family of the Philippines. There are only three species, and this one is the most common and widespread. Recent genetic analysis suggests that they might actually be starlings (Sturnidae) - a summary and reference can be found on Wikipedia. (S6)

Yellow-throated Leafbird Chloropsis palawanensis Puerto Princesa-Sabang highway, Palawan, the Philippines. One of only two species of leafbirds on the Philippines. This one occurs only on Palawan and nearby islands. (S6)

Palawan Flowerpecker Prionochilus plateni plateni Puerto Princesa-Sabang highway, Palawan, the Philippines. Male. Like other Palawan "specialties", it also occurs on several nearby islands. (S6)

Palawan Flowerpecker Prionochilus plateni plateni Puerto Princesa-Sabang highway, Palawan, the Philippines. Female. (S6)

Flame-crowned Flowerpecker Dicaeum anthonyi anthonyi Mt. Polis, Ifugao province, Luzon, the Philippines. Male. Endemic to the Philippines, where it is found only the two largest islands, Luzon and Mindanao. This subspecies, endemic to mountains of North Luzon, is characterized by mostly yellow underparts. (S6)

Metallic-winged Sunbird Aethopyga pulcherrima jefferyi Mt. Polis, Ifugao province, Luzon, the Philippines. Male. Endemic to the Philippines. (S6)

Lovely Sunbird Aethopyga shelleyi Puerto Princesa-Sabang highway, Palawan, the Philippines. Male. A rather distant shot but give you an idea of how spectacular he is. This well-named bird is found only on Palawan and a few small islands in the southern Philippines. It was split from Handsome Sunbird A. bella. (S6)