Whether we’re dropping by a favorite cafe or on our daily commute, we often encounter different personalities along the way. A hike in a remote forest where you might find Birds with different traits is no different. We might not know completely what goes on in those small brains of theirs, but Birds sure have a lot of character, too.
So, that got me curious: Which Philippine Bird matches your personality?
THE OBSERVER
Observers like to shy away from the spotlight, preferring to learn and participate from a distance and keep their thoughts to themselves. They spend most of their days on activities that would enrich themselves. They like being alone and away from a crowd.
If you happen to find these traits in you, then you might be a Philippine Nightjar! Nocturnal birds rely on the element of surprise to catch prey.
They also need a good camouflage to prevent getting eaten themselves, especially while they rest during the day.
The Philippine Nightjar won’t win an award for the most colorful Bird, but it certainly will win any game of hide and seek. Their camouflage is so effective that oftentimes, you could almost step on them before even noticing one nearby.
They also prefer to spend most of their nights hunting alone, limiting their interactions with other Nightjars to repeated calls and songs from a distance.
THE ADVENTURER
Adventurers are active and fun-loving. They refuse to confine themselves to the norm and often engage in spontaneous activities. They are very positive and optimistic, and they try to eliminate any sort of negativity to accomplish their goals.
If you hear yourself singing the same tune, then you might be a Blue-Headed Fantail!
Some Birds are too small and vulnerable to venture into the forest alone. They instead form hunting parties with other Bird species, called “mixed flocks”, in order to cover more forest ground and gain safety in numbers.
Leading one such flock are Blue-Headed Fantails. These Birds are full of energy and very outgoing. They display their elaborate fan-shaped tails, dancing around branches to attract mates and ward other Birds off their territory.
However, they’re often intolerant of other Bird species in the flock.
THE PERFECTIONIST
Perfectionists are very disciplined, and often hold themselves and others to a high standard. They have a strong sense of purpose and usually get things done the right way. They like to continue pushing the envelope to greater heights. They can also be very critical of themselves.
If you see yourself in the same breath, then you might be a Philippine Tailorbird!
Most Birds are great at building nests. Some dig deep cavities from a trunk or the ground. Some collect feathers, leaves, mud, and twigs to build a nice cushion for their eggs.
Tailorbirds, though, take nesting to a whole new level, developing a skill that even some humans are incapable of. Using their beak as a needle and plant fibers as thread, they sew fresh leaves together to form a tent. The Tailorbird would then build the actual nest inside this tent, making sure the nest is completely obscured from view and protected from the elements.
THE CAREGIVER
Caregivers are sensitive to other people’s needs, often ready and willing to extend help to others. They prefer being part of a group rather than being alone. They are very approachable and easy to get along with. They place the needs of others before their own. Often, they find themselves seeking appreciation for their actions.
If you can relate to these attributes, then you might be a Rufous Hornbill. It is very rare for Birds to care for others, save for their own young.
And even with their own chicks, parental care usually lasts until the chicks are old enough to fend for themselves.
This is why it is remarkable to see when that “special treatment” is done outside the immediate family for an extended period of time.
The Rufous Hornbill is one of a few species of Birds capable of forming large extended families, where each member contributes to the betterment of the whole group. It is common to see adults feed each other, or feed chicks that are not theirs. They also protect each member of the group.
THE ACHIEVER
Achievers love to set goals and hit targets. They are driven, inspiring, and often success-oriented. They are charming and self-assured. Due to being accustomed to excellence at everything they do, their biggest fear is mediocrity, especially being a nobody. They tend to overvalue the opinion and validation of others.
If this is how you roll, then you might be a Philippine Eagle.
There is nothing more inspiring than our National Bird. Everything about them is amazing!
The Philippine Eagle is one of the largest Birds of prey in the world and is definitely one of the most beautiful. These Eagles possess one of the most powerful pairs of eyes in the world, capable of seeing prey and their movement from a couple of kilometers away.
They also possess one of the biggest and most powerful talons in the avian world. Feeding primarily on medium-sized mammals, there have been reports of Philippine Eagles attempting to snatch small children with their talons.
BEAUTY IN DIVERSITY
Our avian friends are far from Bird brains who only live to eat and fly. The diverse characteristics exhibited by Birds are usually what makes the long, taxing trip to see them in the wild worth it.
For us humans, our individual personalities can be complicated. But these differences are what make our lives much more colorful and interesting as well.
