Isabela Oriole
Oriolus isabellae
A medium-sized bird of lowland forest, including secondary habitats and bamboo in northern Luzon. Yellow underparts blend into olive upperparts. Bill fairly long and silver. Forages for fruit and insects, sometimes in mixed-species flocks. Similar to White-lored Oriole, but slightly larger, with a silver rather than red bill and no white spot in front of the eye. Song consists of a medium-pitched, upslurred whistle, “hoowit!”.
Taxonomy
The Isabela oriole is commonly confused with the much more common white-lored orioles and black-naped orioles. It is differentiated by its extremely large bill grey bill, uniform olive-yellow plumage and lack of white on its lores.<p>The Isabela oriole is most closely related to the white-lored oriole. Both species are closely related to the paraphyletic Philippine oriole. The Isabela oriole is sometimes considered to form a superspecies with the dark-throated oriole and the Philippine oriole. Alternate names for the Isabela oriole include the green-lored oriole and olive-lored oriole.
- Scientific name
- Oriolus isabellae
- Authority
- Ogilvie-Grant, 1894
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Oriolidae
- Genus
- Oriolus
Range and habitat
The Isabela oriole is now confined to the lowland forests in the Northern Sierra Madre mountain range in Luzon. It is frequently seen in the canopy and middle storeys of forests and also forest edge or patches up to 440 masl. It is seen in mixed flocks with other birds such as bar-bellied cuckooshrikes, black-and-white trillers, blackish cuckooshrikes and other forest birds.<p>It has not been recorded in Bataan province since 1947 despite an intensive search done in 2014.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
The Isabela oriole has a known population of about 50-250 mature individuals and is assessed as Critically Endangered based on its extremely small and fragmented population. Organisations such as Buhay-Ilang and the Mabuwaya Foundation are working to conserve them with educational programs and festivals celebrating this bird. The oriole is now a Flagship species for the North Sierra Madre National Park.<p>Since 2015, a research and conservation project for the Isabela Oriole has been implemented in Baggao by the Mabuwaya Foundation. Information, education and communication, community consultations are held in Baggao with the local government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and local residents. Plans are underway to declare the oriole site in Baggao a Critical Habitat and to encourage ecotourism.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Red-faced Crombec
Sylvietta whytii
Small and virtually tailless warbler with a gray back and rufous underparts. The face is completely rufous, giving it an “open” impression. Found in a variety of savanna and woodland habitat, though mostly in Miombo in the southern part of its range. The song varies geographically: can be a soft warble or a trill. The call is a short, fast, wooden rattle. Northern and Long-billed Crombecs can look similar, but Red-faced is separated by its lack of an eye stripe.
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Pampa rufa
Very large and spectacular hummingbird of humid forest and brushy woodland in highlands of Chiapas and northern Central America; uncommon and local. Feeds mainly at low to middle levels, often inside shady understory. Male and female look similar, with thick, slightly arched black bill, pale rusty underparts, and large, broad tail with rusty base and buffy corners. No similar species in its localized range.
Yellow-billed Lorikeet
Neopsittacus musschenbroekii
A medium-sized, long-tailed parrot of mid-montane forest and edge. Predominantly green with a bright red patch from the chest, where it is broadest, to the belly. Yellow bill and lime green streaks radiating from the eye. Readily seen flying in small flocks. Similar to Orange-billed Lorikeet, but Yellow-billed Lorikeet is usually found at lower elevations, is slightly larger with an obviously yellow bill and reddish undertail. Call, a shrill, high-pitch “siiik!”.
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