Mindoro Boobook
Ninox mindorensis
A fairly small owl of lowland and foothill forest and woodland. Rather dark brown on the head and back and reddish-brown on the chest, with bright yellow eyes and thin white eyebrows forming a V. Mindoro Scops-Owl is similar in size and color, but Mindoro Boobook is finely barred all over. Much smaller than Chocolate Boobook, without white on the chest. Song is a fairly high-pitched, descending mournful whistle, “wiiiiuuuuu.”
Identification
EBird describes the bird as "A fairly small owl of lowland and foothill forest and woodland. Rather dark brown on the head and back and reddish-brown on the chest, with bright yellow eyes and thin white eyebrows forming a V. Mindoro scops-owl is similar in size and color, but Mindoro boobook is finely barred all over. Much smaller than chocolate boobook, without white on the chest. Song is a fairly high-pitched, descending mournful whistle, 'wiiiiuuuuu'."<p>Among the Philippine hawk-owl species complex, it is distinguished by the fine barring on its head and belly and its overall darker plumage.<p>The Mindoro boobook is an earless species. The males and females look much alike.<p>It is medium-sized at 20 cm tall, along with the Sulu boobook, in the Philippine hawk-owl species complex. This is in between the larger Camiguin boobook, Romblon boobook and Cebu boobook at 25 cm and the smaller Luzon boobook and Mindanao boobook which are 15 to 18 cm tall.
Taxonomy
Genus: Ninox; Family: Strigidae; Order: Strigiformes.
- Scientific name
- Ninox mindorensis
- Authority
- Ogilvie-Grant, 1896
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Family
- Strigidae
- Genus
- Ninox
Range and habitat
Its habitat is in tropical moist lowland primary and secondary forests up to 1250 meters above sea level. It is also occasionally seen on forest edges, clearings and plantations.<p>The IUCN Red List classifies this bird as vulnerable with population estimates of 2,500 to 9,999 mature individuals. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of legal and illegal logging, mining, conversion into farmlands and urbanization. Lowland forest destruction has eradicated almost all of this bird's habitat. In 1988, just 120 km2 of forest remained on Mindoro, of which only 25% was closed-canopy.<p>It occurs in a few protected areas in Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park (which is also the stronghold of the critically endangered Tamaraw) and Naujan Lake National Park.<p>There is no species-specific conservation program at present, but conservation actions proposed include more species surveys to better understand habitat and population, initiating education and awareness campaigns to raise the species' profile and instill pride in locals, and lobbying for protection of the remaining forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Carib Grackle
Quiscalus lugubris
Common in northern South America and the Lesser Antilles. Found in a variety of open habitats, including around towns and cities, especially abundant along the coast. Male is glossy black with a pointed bill and a yellow eye. Tail is fairly long and wedge-shaped. Females are dark grayish-brown with slightly paler on underparts and a yellow eye. Smaller and shorter-tailed than Great-tailed Grackle.
Jamaican Vireo
Vireo modestus
A small inhabitant of thickets in woodlands and scrublands where it feeds by actively searching for insects within tangles; avoids mangroves and well-manicured woodlands that lack dense undergrowth. The Greater Antillean Elaenia shares this species’ wingbars and overall dull coloration, but the elaenia has prominent whitish markings around the eye and is usually found perched upright or flycatching. The Jamaican Vireo’s song includes a “chi-wee, chi-wee, chi-wee, chi-wee, you,” a “chi-wuh, chi-wuh, chi-wuh, zha,” and a “wee-wee-zhrr.” Calls include “jip,” given singly or in a series, and a harsh upslurred “zhweee.”
Hildebrandt's Starling
Lamprotornis hildebrandti
A beautiful starling of savanna country. The upperparts are iridescent, with a purple sheen on the head and green on most of the wing. Also note the orange underparts and eye. Found in moderately moist savanna and woodland, often in small flocks, sometimes with other species of starlings. Similar to Superb Starling, but doesn’t have a white chest band, underwing patch, or vent, and the eye is orange rather than whitish. Also similar to Shelley’s Starling, but slightly larger and paler overall, with a paler rufous belly and a more contrasting green wing. The common call is a raspy “cherrcherrcherr” that is incorporated into the rambling song.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.