Philippine Megapode

Widespread and abundant in cities, neighborhoods and farms. Avoids dense woods. Flocks cluster in dense bushes, bustling around and chattering to one another. Males have smart black bibs, bright rufous napes, and stunningly patterned wings with brilliant buffs and browns. Underparts are pale pearly-gray. Females are plain brown with cute face and lighter eyebrow. Native to Eurasia; introduced to much of the rest of the world.

Distinctive, large white wading bird with a spatula for a bill. Adult has short crest, yellowish breast patch. First year has paler bill, with fine black wingtips visible in flight. Sleeping birds have horizontal posture and bulging neck, vs. more vertical stance of egrets. Found in wetlands with shallow water (including tidal flats), where feeds by sweeping its bill side-to-side for crustaceans and small fish. May be confused with egrets when sleeping, but note stockier, more thickset overall appearance.

A fairly small owl of lower-elevation montane forest on Luzon. Dark brown on the head, chest, and upperparts, with barred flight feathers. Eyebrows, beard, and belly whitish, with some patterning. Overlaps geographically with Philippine Scops-Owl, but Luzon is smaller, usually found at higher elevation, and has yellow rather than orange-brown eyes. Voice includes a single slightly rising then falling whistled note, repeated at intervals.