Endemic Birds Of The Philippines

This article is one of a series providing information about endemism among birds in the world's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in Birds.

Patterns of endemism

Under the most up-to-date taxonomy, there are 237 bird species endemic to the Philippines. Many of these are restricted to specific islands, particularly Luzon, Mindanao, and Palawan."A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines", Robert S. Kennedy et al., Oxford University Press, 2013. The number of endemic species recognized in the Philippines has increased in recent years, mainly due to 'splits' of species and, to a much lesser extent, due to the discovery of previously unknown species. An example of splitting is the division of the erstwhile species Philippine hawk-owl (''Ninox scutulata'') into seven different species, now called by the name of this-or-that Boobook (Luzon Boobook, Mindoro Boobook, etc...see the list below). Another example is the split of the erstwhile tarictric hornbill (''Penelopides panini)'', itself a Philippines endemic, into four or five separate species (Visayan Hornbill, Luzon Hornbill, Mindoro Hornbill, Mindanao Hornbill and possibly Samar Hornbill, whose status as distinct from Mindanao Hornbill is being debated). The split of the Greater Flameback '' Chrysocolaptes lucidus'' is another example. The Greater Flameback has been split into eight species, four of which are endemic to the Philippines (Luzon Flameback, Yellow-faced Flameback, Buff-spotted Flameback and Red-headed Flameback).

In addition to the splitting, there has been much taxonomic reassignment of species to different families, particularly affecting the babblers, many of which have now been assigned to Locustellidae (grass warblers) or Zosteropidae (white-eyes).

However the taxonomy is organized, very few countries exceed the Philippines in number of endemic bird species. Indonesia, Brazil and Australia exceed the Philippines, but these are much larger countries. There are seven distinct Endemic Bird Areas in the Philippines: (1) Mindoro, (2) Luzon, (3) Negros and Panay, (4) Cebu, (5) Mindanao and the Eastern Visayas, (6) the Sulu Archipelago and (7) Palawan.

In the context of Philippines bird endemics, the Rhabdornis' merit special discussion. The affinities of these birds with other species has long been under debate. In the past, many taxonomists considered the Rhabdornis' to form a distinct endemic family of birds restricted to the Philippines (''Rhabdornithidae''). Other taxonomists have considered the Rhabdornis' to be a form of Creeper (''Certhiidae''). Recent study tends to consider the Rhabdornis' to form a genus within the Starling family (''Sturnidae''), although this view may be subject to further revision. Four species of Rhabdornis are currently recognized (Strip-sided, Long-billed, Stripe-breasted and Visayan). Whether or not the Rhabdornis' represent an endemic Philippines family, the four Rhabdornis species are all endemic to the Philippines.

Many species of Philippine birds are also found in the Talaud Islands north of Sulawesi, which are part of Indonesia. Technically, those birds are not Philippine endemics. However, considering the small size and remote location of the Talaud Islands, it may be justified to consider those species as Philippine endemics for practical purposes. Individual cases are discussed below.

Many of the Philippine endemic species are rare and endangered; two of the birds are possibly extinct.

List of species

The species listed follow the taxonomic order of "Birds of the Philippines" by Robert Kennedy et al. The English names of some birds have been subject to recent change; in those cases an 'also-known-as' (aka) is indicated. Some deviation from the Kennedy taxonomic order has been necessary due to reassignment of species to different families by the International Ornithological Committee.

*Philippine duck, ''Anas luzonica''
*Philippine serpent eagle, ''Spilornis holospilus''
*Philippine eagle, ''Pithecophaga jefferyi''
*Philippine hawk-eagle, ''Nisaetus philippensis''
*Pinsker's hawk-eagle, ''Nisaetus pinskeri''
*Philippine falconet, ''Microhierax erythrogenys''
*Palawan peacock-pheasant, ''Polyplectron napoleonis''
* Worcester's buttonquail, ''Turnix worcesteri''
*Spotted Buttonquail, ''Turnix ocellata''
*Luzon Rail aka Brown-banded Rail, ''Lewinia mirifica''
*Calayan Rail, ''Aptenorallus calayanensis''
* Plain bush-hen, ''Amaurornis olivacea''
*Bukidnon Woodcock, ''Scolapax bukidnonensis''
*Philippine green pigeon, ''Treron axillaris''
*White-eared brown dove, ''Phapitreron leucotis''
*Amethyst brown dove, ''Phapitreron amethystina''
* Dark-eared brown dove, ''Phapitreron brunneiceps''
*Tawitawi brown dove, ''Phapitreron cinereiceps''
* Flame-breasted Fruit-Dove, ''Ptilinopus marchei''
* Cream-breasted Fruit-Dove, ''Ptilinopus merrilli''
* Yellow-breasted Fruit-Dove, ''Ptilinopus occipitalis''
* Black-chinned Fruit-Dove, ''Ptilinopus leclandheri''
* Negros Fruit-Dove, ''Ptilinopus arcanus'' (possibly extinct)
* Pink-bellied Imperial-Pigeon, ''Ducula poliocephala''
*Spotted Imperial-Pigeon, ''Ducula carola''
*Philippine collared dove, ''Streptopelia tenuirostris''
*Luzon Bleeding-heart, ''Gallicolumba luzonica''
*Mindanao Bleeding-heart, ''Gallicomba criniger''
*Sulu Bleeding-heart, ''Gallicolumba menagei'' (possibly extinct)
*Negros Bleeding-heart, ''Gallicolumba keayi''
*Mindoro Bleeding-heart, ''Gallicolumba platenae''
*Mindanao Lorikeet, ''Trichoglossus johnstoniae''
* Guaiabero, ''Bolbopsittacus lunulatus''
*Philippine Cockatoo, ''Cacatua haematuropgia''
* Green Racquet-tail, ''Prioniturus luconensis''
* Luzon Racquet-tail, ''Prioniturus montanus''
*Mindoro racket-tail, ''Prioniturus mindorensis''
* Blue-headed Racquet-tail, ''Prioniturus platenae''
* Mindanao Racquet-tail, ''Prioniturus waterstradti''
* Blue-winged Racquet-tail, ''Prioniturus verticalis''
* Blue-crowned Racquet-tail, ''Prioniturus discurus''
*Philippine Hanging-Parrot aka Colasisi, ''Loriculus philippensis''
*Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo, ''Hierococcyx pectoralis''
* Philippine Drongo-Cuckoo, ''Surniculus velutinus''
*Scale-feathered Malkoha, ''Dasylophus cumingi''
* Red-crested Malkoha, ''Dasylophus superciliosus''
*Black-hooded Coucal, ''Centropus steerii''
* Philippine Coucal, ''Centropus viridis''
*Black-faced Coucal, ''Centropus melanops''
*Rufous Coucal, ''Centropus unirfus''
* Mindoro Scops-Owl, ''Otus mindorensis''
* Luzon Scops-Owl, ''Otus longicornis''
* Mantanani Scops-Owl, ''Otus mantananensis''
* Palawan Scops-Owl, ''Otus fuliginosus''
* Philippine Scops-Owl, ''Otus megalotis''
* Mindanao Scops-Owl, ''Otus mirus''
*Giant scops owl, ''Otus gurneyi''
*Philippine Eagle-Owl, ''Buba philippensis''
*Luzon boobook, ''Ninox philippensis''
*Chocolate boobook, ''Ninox randi''
*Mindanao boobook, ''Ninox spilocephala''
*Mindoro boobook, ''Ninox mindorensis''
* Romblon boobook, ''Ninox spilonotus''
*Cebu boobook, ''Ninox rumseyi''
* Camiguin boobook, ''Ninox leventisi''
*Sulu boobook, ''Ninox reyi''
*Philippine Frogmouth, ''Batrachostomus septimus''
*Philippine Nightjar, ''Caprimulgus manillensis''
*Whitehead's Swiftlet, ''Aerodramus whiteheadi''
* Ameline Swiftlet, ''Aerodramus amelis''
*Philippine Swiftlet, ''Aerodramus mearnsi''
* Pygmy Swiftlet, ''Collocalia troglodytes''
* Gray-rumped swiftlet, ''Collocalia marginata''
*Philippine spine-tailed swift, ''Mearnsia picina''
*Philippine Trogon, ''Harpactes ardens''
*Indigo-banded Kingfisher, ''Ceyx cyanopecta''
*Northern Silvery Kingfisher, ''Ceyx flumenicola ''
*Southern Silvery Kingfisher, ''Ceyx argentatus''
*Philippine dwarf kingfisher, ''Ceyx melanurus''
*Rufous-lored Kingfisher, ''Todiramphus winchelli''
*Spotted Kingfisher aka Spotted Wood-Kingfisher, ''Actenoides lindsayi''
* Blue-capped Kingfisher aka Blue-capped Wood-Kingfisher aka Hombron's Wood-Kingfisher, ''Actenoides hombroni''
* Rufous-crowned Bee-eater, ''Merops americanus''
*Visayan Hornbill, ''Penelopides panini''
*Luzon Hornbill, ''Penelopides manillae''
* Mindoro Hornbill, ''Penelopides mindorensis''
*Samar Hornbill, ''Penelopides samarensis''
*Mindanao Hornbill, ''Penelopides affinis''
* Writhed-billed Hornbill aka Walden's Hornbill,'' Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni''
*Writhed Hornbill, ''Rhabdotorrhinus leucocephalus''
*Sulu Hornbill, ''Anthracoceros montani''
* Palawan Hornbill, ''Anthracoceros marchei''
*Rufous Hornbill, ''Buceros hydrocorax''
*Philippine Woodpecker, ''Yungipicus maculatus''
*Northern Sooty Woodpecker, ''Mulleripicus funebris''
*Southern Sooty Woodpecker, ''Mulleripicus fuliginosus''
* Luzon Flameback, ''Chrysocolaptes haematribon''
*Yellow-faced Flameback, ''Chrysocolaptes xanthocephalus''
* Buff-spotted Flameback, ''Chrysocolaptes lucidus''
* Red-headed Flameback, ''Chrysocolaptes erythrocephalus''
*Wattled Broadbill, ''Eurylaimus steeri''
*Visayan Broadbill, ''Eurylaimus samarensis''
*Whiskered Pitta, ''Erythropitta kochi''
* Philippine pitta, ''Erythropitta eryhthrogaster''
*Azure-breasted Pitta aka Steer's Pitta, ''Pitta steeri''
* Blackish Cuckoo-shrike, ''Analisoma coerelescens''
* White-winged Cuckoo-shrike, ''Analisoma ostenta''
* Black-bibbed Cuckoo-shrike, ''Edalisoma mindanense''
* McGregor's Cuckoo-shrike, ''Malindangia mcgregori''
*Black-and-white triller, ''Lalage melanoleuca''
*Philippine Leafbird, ''Chloropsis flavipennis''
*Yellow-throated Leafbird, ''Chloropsis palawanensis''
* Yellow-wattled Bulbul, ''Brachypodius urostictus''
*Ashy-fronted Bulbul, ''Pycnonotus cinereifrons''
* Gray-throated Bulbul aka Palawan Bulbul, ''Alophoixus frater''
* Sulphur-bellied Bulbul, ''Iole palawanensis''
*Philippine Bulbul, ''Hypsipetes philippinus''
*Zamboanga Bulbul, ''Hypsipetes rufigularis''
*Streak-breasted Bulbul, ''Hypsipetes siquijorensis"
*Yellowish Bulbul, ''Hypsipetes everetti''
*Camiguin Bulbul, "Hypsipetes catarmanensis"
* Balicassiao, ''Dicrurus balicassius''
*Philippine Oriole, ''Oriolus steeri''
*Isabela Oriole, ''Oriolus isabellae''
*Philippine fairy-bluebird, ''Irena cyanogaster''
*Palawan fairy-bluebird, ''Irena tweeddalii''
* Palawan Tit, ''Periparus amabilis''
* Elegant Tit, ''Periparus elegans''
* White-fronted Tit, ''Sittiparus semilarvatus''
* Sulphur-billed Nuthatch, ''Sitta oenochlamys''
* Ashy-headed Babbler, ''Pellorneum cinereiceps''
* Palawan Babbler, ''Malacopteron palawanense''
* Falcated Wren-Babbler, ''Ptilocichla falcata''
* Striated Wren-Babbler, ''Ptilocichla mindanensis''
* Rusty-crowned Babbler, ''Sterrhoptilus capitalis''
*Black-crowned Babbler