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Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo mobbed by a Black-naped Monarch

The Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo is a Philippine endemic ranging from the lowlands up to high elevations from the major islands of the Philippines. It was formerly lumped with the Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo but now regarded as as a separate species due to the difference in vocalizations. The breeding biology of Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo is poorly studied but it is most likely a nest parasite. It is a medium-sized bird, almost 12 inches from beak to tail but here it is being mobbed by a smaller Black-naped Monarch. The monarch most likely is defending a nearby nest while the cuckoo is just having his breakfast! Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo, Cuculus pectoralis August 2013, Eden Nature Park, Toril, Davao, Mindanao, Philippines Video by Adrian Constantino Digiscoped with a Swarovski 80 ATM HD, Panasonic G3, Panasonic 20 mm F1.7 lens, Swarovski UCA (Universal Camera Adapter)

Mountain Shrike from the Cordilleras [HD]

The Mountain Shrike is a high elevation endemic found only in the islands of Luzon, Mindoro and Mindanao. It prefers clearings and open areas adjacent to montane forest and is a prolific hunter, preying on lizards, small mammals like rodents and shrews and frogs. It likes to perch on branches near clearings as these provide good vantage points while looking for prey. These are recent videos of a nice pair from Mt. Polis taken during our recently concluded 2015 Tours. An older video from 2010 showing an immature Mountain Shrike can be seen here. Mountain Shrike, Lanius validirostris March 2015, Mt. Polis, Mountain Province, the Cordilleras, Luzon, Philippines Video by Adrian Constantino Digiscoped with a Swarovski 80 ATM HD, Panasonic G3, Panasonic 20 mm F1.7 lens, Swarovski UCA (Universal Camera Adapter)

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A regurgitating Writhed Hornbill [HD]

This is a video of a male Writhed Hornbill regurgitating a fig fruit in the slopes of Mt. Apo Natural Park. The Writhed Hornbill is a Mindanao endemic and prefers lowland forests up to 1200 meters. Just like most hornbills, they nest in the cavities of tall trees, enclosing the female hornbill in using mud, while the male hornbill delivers food both to the female and the chicks, cleans the nest, and does other chores. Regurgitation is the major strategy of the male hornbill when feeding a nesting female and chicks enclosed in its nest. This Writhed Hornbill, plus the majestic Rufous Hornbill and the smaller Mindanao Taricitc Hornbill completes the Mindanao hornbill trio. Writhed Hornbill, Aceros leucocephalus March 2014, Mt. Apo Natural Park, Davao, Mindanao, Philippines Video by Nicky Icarangal, JR. Digiscoped with a Swarovski 95 STX HD, Panasonic GH3, Swarovski APO-TLS

Orange-tufted Spiderhunter

This is a short video of an Orange-tufted Spiderhunter resting after a few minutes of feeding in the forest canopy. This is a Philippine endemic ranging only in the islands of Mindanao, Bohol, Samar and Leyte and is a recent split from the Little Spiderhunter complex. With the new and updated IOC list, the Orange-tufted Spiderhunter has become one of the three endemic spiderhunters in the Philippines, together with Naked-faced Spiderhunter (endemic to Luzon and Mindanao) and Pale Spiderhunter (endemic to Palawan). Spiderhunters are omnivorous. As the name implies, they prefer to pluck small spiders from the center of spiderwebs, as well as forage for other small insects such as crickets and butterflies in the forest canopy. Their long, decurved bills together with the long and thin tongue (check it out at around 0:35 into the video) also enable them to drink nectar from flowers, a trait shared with sunbirds, their close relatives. Orange-tufted Spiderhunter, Arachnothera flammifera June 2014, Eden Nature Park, Toril, Davao, Mindanao, Philippines Video by Adrian Constantino Digiscoped with a Swarovski 80 ATM HD, Panasonic G3, Panasonic 20 mm F1.7, Swarovski UCA

Feeding Striped Flowerpeckers

This is a video of feeding Striped Flowerpeckers, tiny, uncommon, very active birds endemic to the Philippines. They are found in most islands of our archipelago, but the most reliable (and accessible) sites for them are in Mt. Makiling in Laguna and in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The Striped Flowerpecker looks very similar to a Grey-streaked Flycatcher, but can be easily differentiated by observing their behavior: the Striped Flowerpecker wags its tail from side to side while Grey-streaked Flycatcher prefers to perch on exposed treetops and flies out and returns to the same perch. They are efficient seed dispersal agents (especially mistle-toe, check out how in our posts here.) Some taxonomists lump this species with Thick-billed Flowerpecker, a flowerpecker ranging in other Southeast Asian countries. Feeding Striped Flowerpeckers, Dicauem aeruginosum June 2014, Mt. Makiling, Laguna and Kasibu, NUeva Viscaya Video by Adrian Constantino

Luzon Scops Owl [HD]

Measuring only 7 inches, the Luzon Scops Owl is one of the smallest scops owls in the Philippines. It is found only in the high elevation montane forests of Luzon, above 1000 meters and overlaps with its bigger and more common cousin Philippine Scops Owl. They have been observed to nest on tree cavities made by woodpeckers. You can hear it giving its characteristic two-syllable whistle in this video. This is a digiscoped video using a Swarovski 80 ATM HD spotting scope. Imagine what you can do with your DSLR and your 600 or 800 mm lens! Luzon Scops Owl, Otus longicornis January 2014, Mt. Polis, Ifugao, Luzon, Philippines Video by Nicky Icarangal, JR.

Black-hooded Coucal

The Black-hooded Coucal is one of the 6 species of coucals found in the Philippines. It is the Philippines rarest endemic coucal and can only be seen in Mindoro, a small island southwest of mainland Luzon. The field guide describes it as a secretive skulker, and prefers the dense vines and foliage of the lowland forests in Mindoro. The call is a a loud and resonating Hoot hoot hoot hoot hoot similar to that of a Black-faced Coucal, another endemic that ranges only in Mindanao, Samar,Leyte and Bohol. Birdlife International classifies this bird as "Critically Endangered" as the lowland forests in Mindoro are rapidly disappearing due to illegal logging and slash and burn farming. The best reliable site for this Coucal is in Siburan where some lowland forest is still present within a penal colony and prison farm. Entry to the Siburan Penal Colony is restricted and requires a permit and prior arrangement with the Prison Superintendent. Black-hooded Coucal, Centropus steerii February 2014, Siburan, Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines

Short-crested Monarch [HD]

Two of the most sought-after birds on any birding trip to the Philippines are our two endemic monarchs, Celestial Monarch and Short-crested Monarch. The Celestial Monarch is definitely a very-good looking bird (see our video here) and is always a candidate for the bird of the trip but others prefer its equally gorgeous cousin: the Short-crested Monarch. To kick off the new birding year, we would like to share our video of a Short-crested Monarch pair starting to build their nest. Short-crested Monarch, Hypothymis helenae March 2013, PICOP, Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines

Rufous-fronted Tailorbird [HD]

The Philippines is one of the countries in the world with very high biodiversity when it comes to tailorbirds. In the new and updated list of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, we have 11 tailorbird species, with 8 species endemic to the Philippines. The one featured here is a Rufous-fronted Tailorbird, endemic to the islands of Mindanao, Samar, Leyte, Bohol and satellites. Rufous-fronted Tailorbird, Orthotomus frontalis March 2013, PICOP, Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines