LIn celebration of the National Bird Day, here are five local bird species you may want to get to know more and visit someday!
1. Philippine Eagle
Found only in the Philippines, this eagle is known for its massive arched beak and long crown feathers. They are three feet tall with a seven feet-wide wings, which is the broadest in the world.
The Philippine Eagle’s eye sight can see eight times the distance compared to the humans’. They mostly prey on Colugos that are mostly found in the islands of Mindanao.
Named as the National Bird of the Philippines, this incredible bird is unfortunately critically endangered due to habitat loss and illegal hunting, with only an estimated 400 pairs left in the wild, according to the Philippine Eagle Foundation.
2. Palawan Peacock Pheasant
Notable for its vibrant colors, glossy black feathers with a metallic green-blue combination on its crest, neck, crown and wings, the Palawan Peacock Pheasant is considered to be one of the Philippines’ best wonders.
They can only be seen in the Palawan forests with their population continuously declining, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list. This is due to habitat loss, hunting and illegal trading.
3. Philippine Cockatoo
The Philippine Cockatoo, or the Red-Vented Cockatoo, is the only cockatoo found in the country. It has a white coat with some orange-red feathers under its tail.
They are listed “Critically Endangered” by IUCN, but the Katala Foundation in Palawan is under works to conserve this beautiful word and increase its population.
4. Steere’s Pitta
One of the two endemic species of Pittas in the Philippines, the Steere’s Pitta is considered to be the best looking bird of its kind, because of their azure-colored breast and green back.
This bird often lives by the forests of Sierra Madre.
Steere’s Pitta’s population is decreasing due to the rapid loss of lowland forests and has been listed as vulnerable by IUCN.
5. Spotted Wood Kingfisher
The Spotted Wood Kingfisher is considered to be one of the most colorful birds in the Philippines. Males Kingfishers often have a black-green edges on their breasts, while womens have irregular black-edged scales.
They could be found preying on insects at the mountains of Mt. Makiling in Luzon, Negros and Panay.
