Philippine Leafbird
Chloropsis flavipennis
A medium-sized bird of lowland and foothill forest canopy and edge. Overall bright green with a paler green chest and face and a yellowish throat, eye-ring, and edge to the wing. Note the brown bill and black wingtips and legs. No other green birds of this size occur in its range. Song consists of simple, medium-pitched whistled phrases or a series of repeated “tyup!” notes.
Taxonomy
EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized bird of lowland and foothill forest canopy and edge. Overall bright green with a paler green chest and face and a yellowish throat, eye-ring, and edge to the wing. Note the brown bill and black wingtips and legs. No other green birds of this size occur in its range. Song consists of simple, medium-pitched whistled phrases or a series of repeated 'tyup!' notes."
- Scientific name
- Chloropsis flavipennis
- Authority
- (Tweeddale, 1878)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Chloropseidae
- Genus
- Chloropsis
Range and habitat
Its natural habitats at tropical moist lowland primary forest and well developed secondary forest up to 970 meters above sea level. It appears to not be able to tolerate great amounts of forest degradation. It is known to forage in the upper levels of the forest in the canopy.<p>IUCN has assessed this bird as vulnerable with the population being estimated at 600 to 1.700. Extensive lowland deforestation on all islands in its range is the main threat. Most remaining lowland forest that is not afforded protection leaving it vulnerable to both legal and Illegal logging, conversion into farmlands through Slash-and-burn and mining.<p>It occurs in the protected area of Pasonanca Natural Park but enforcement and protection from loggers is lax.<p>Conservation actions proposed are to survey remaining lowland forest tracts on Samar, Leyte and in poorly known areas of Mindanao, to establish its current distribution and population status. Following these surveys, Propose key sitesfor urgent establishment as protected areas. Study the habitat requirements of the species, with particular reference to the extent of reliance on primary forest habitats.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Large pale dove with a black crescent on the nape. Slightly smaller and paler than Rock Pigeon, with a proportionately longer, square-tipped tail. Favors farms and suburbs; avoids areas with extensive forests. Typically seen in pairs or small loose groups; forms larger flocks in winter. Widespread and common throughout much of Eurasia and northern Africa. Introduced to, and established in, much of North America, the Caribbean, and parts of Central America. Compare with African Collared-Dove, which may occur in small feral populations or as an escapee throughout Eurasian Collared-Dove’s range. Especially note tail pattern from below: mostly white, contrasting with the grayish undertail coverts, and with black extending down the outer edge of the tail feathers. Voice - a cooing “woop-WOOO!-woop” - is also helpful.
Greater Kestrel
Falco rupicoloides
Large pale-brown kestrel. Gray tail has broad black bands, and the back is heavily marked with black. Found in semi-desert, grassland, and arid savanna. Often perches conspicuously in an isolated tree. Calls are high-pitched squealing notes and much lower barks. Larger than all other kestrels, but similar in size to smaller falcons. Uniform brownish color is distinctive.
Gray-backed Tachuri
Polystictus superciliaris
A small rare and endemic flycatcher with a conspicuous white patch in front of the eyes and a short white eyebrow. Also note its gray crown and a brownish-gray back and cinnamon washed breast and sides. Inhabits rocky grasslands with scattered shrubs. The song is an accelerated trill “pilrup-pilrup-pilrup” and the call is a series of squeaky “eek-uk” notes.
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