Birds of Mountain Province Vol.1

Photos of birds seen during a two-week period in early 2023, on the 5th-17th January. This list comprises approximately 20-25% of bird species found in Mountain Province. Most of the birds were photographed in situ (location shown in brackets). Three of these species are the national bird of other countries. I was unable to take photos of a couple, and an audio recording was taken of a third species. Photos are in chronological order – categorically, from memory.

Species found only in the island of Luzon.

Benguet Bush Warbler (Baguio). Sighting reported from Bay-yo recently. Very little is known about this species that is found only in the Cordillera mountains of northern Luzon. I found this songbird in the pines on the steep eastern slopes of John Hay parklands.

(Ooops, wrong photo posted. To be rectified.)

Red Crossbill ssp Luzon (Bontoc) lives in coniferous forests and uses its crossed bill to feed on pine cones. Churya-a to Guina-ang road.

Blue-headed Fantail (Mainit). Also spotted in Baguio and Bontoc. This bird inhabits primary and secondary forest from the lowlands to the mountains on Luzon and Catanduanes.

Chestnut-faced Babbler (Mainit). A fairly small bird in the white-eye family, it has an obvious chestnut mask. Found in dense high-altitude montane forest such as in Poklis woodlands behind Mount Amongao where photo was taken. Also found in the El Camino un-real (Mainit trail in Tiging - not fit for a king).

Green-backed Whistler (Bontoc). Also shot in Mainit. This is a fairly small bird of forest from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains. Mount Pokis.

Scale-feathered Malkoha (Baguio). Photo taken from a hillside outside Brent School.  Also spotted in the deep forest trail to Mount Bandilaan.

Red-crested Malkoha (Nil photo). Had a brief sighting of this skittish bird flitting through the understory of the pine trees in the ridges above Fayvay ricefields in Mainit. It took off when it spotted me.

Species endemic to the Philippines. Usually found only in tropical moist montane (and lowland) forest such as exists in Mountain Province, and hence make their home in these mountains.

Brown-breasted Kingfisher (La Union). This Tigmamanuk is a resident over much of its of wide distribution. Its range includes the edge of forests.

Elegant Tit (Mainit). Also shot in Bontoc. Found in forest and open wooded areas from the foothills to the mountains. This bird is from the pine-clad hills of Chonglian, obviously.

Philippine Hanging Parrot - Loriculus Chongliansis (Mainit). Kulasisi is a small parrot species in danger of extinction due to habitat loss. Its biggest threat is trapping for the illegal wildlife trade. I encountered this lone Chonglian Hanging Parrot foraging for food up in the tallest pine tree of Kamogsur forest.

Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker (Mainit). A small woodpecker of foothill and low-elevation montane forest and more open wooded areas. Found this intriguing bird in a high-altitude pine forest of Ilit (wilderness) trail in Kamognorte in Chonglian.

Sulphur-billed Nuthatch (Mainit). Also shot near Fato in the Bontoc-Guinaang-Maligcong territories. I had multiple sightings of this small bird in the montane forests of Upper Chonglian.

Philippine Bulbul - Hypsipetes Chonglianus (Mainit). Found this orange-brown throated and chested songbird steam-bathing in a shrub beside the orange-brown colored channels of Mainit hotsprings in Aropey.

Negros Leaf Warbler (Ilocos Sur). Found in Bessang Pass and near Sagang Pass in Mainit, lacks the crown stripe of a Mountain Leaf Warbler. It may possibly be an Arctic or other warbler.

Philippine Coucal. Found throughout the archipelago, Tarakup is a large, long-tailed bird of open or disturbed areas from the lowlands to the mountains. Audio of bird calling is from the ridges of Angajar overlooking the Chonglian rice terraces.

Bicolored Flowerpecker (Mainit). This bird is a rare inhabitant of the tropical moist montane forests up to 2,250 meters above sea level. They often form mixed flocks with other species of small forest birds. This little guy was mixing with a Fire-breasted Flowerpecker.

Mountain Shrike (Guina-ang). Similar to the Long-tailed Shrike but with a shorter tail, this species is getting rare as it's rapidly losing its natural habitats in the tropical moist montane forest from 1,200 to 2,400 meters above sea level. This bird, found near the ricefields trail to Kupap-ey in Maligcong, is even using an alternate perch as its pine trees have been cut for roads and electricity lines.

Species found only in natural montane forest habitats in and outside the Philippines.

Citrine canary-flycatcher (Baguio). Found on either side of Celebes Sea separating Mindanao and Indonesia. This beauty was spotted in the John Hay grounds.

Turquoise Flycatcher (Bontoc). Also in Mainit and Guina-ang. This bright blue bird has a similar range to the Citrine canary-flycatcher on either side of Wallace’s line. It inhabits the understory and upper levels of foothill and montane forests of Indonesia and the Philippines.

Golden-bellied Gerygone (Bontoc). Also sighted in Manila. Due to its large range in Southeast Asia, Birdlife International does not consider this species as “Vulnerable” even with its decreasing population and unquantified population size. The population size is certainly very low and decreasing in Mountain Province. 

Little Pied Flycatcher (Mainit). Also shot in Bontoc. A species of bird found from Southeast Asia to the Himalayas in the Indian Subcontinent. Female.

Coppersmith Barbet (Manila) favors open woodlands, forest edge, and gardens in lowland and foothill areas; ranges up into higher elevations in the Philippines and Indonesia. Recently reported from Baguio, and hence has better chance of occurrence in Mountain Province than a couple of the other birds at the bottom of the list below.

Pied Bushchat (Guina-ang). Also seen in Tadian, Mainit and Bontoc). A sedentary small passerine bird found in Southeast Asia, subtropical Asia and extending to the Middle East. This little beauty is from the winding Litangfan country road.

Species found only in Southeast Asia or continental Asia.

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (Bontoc and Mainit). Tiny songbird of forested mountains and the upper reaches of hills and valleys in the northern India and Southeast Asia. Like other flowerpeckers, this tiny bird feeds on fruits and plays an important role in the dispersal of fruiting plants.

Yellow-vented Bulbul (Mainit). Also photographed in La Union and Manila, this passerine is a resident breeder in southeastern Asia. It is commonly found in a wide variety of open habitats such as woodlands and cultivated areas.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater (La Union)is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, from the Indian subcontinent to Papua New Guinea. This migratory bird is seen seasonally in many parts but breed colonially in small open habitats close to water usually in river valleys.

Brown Shrike (Mainit). Also seen in La Union and Manila. Resident mainly in Asia but is found as far north as Siberia. It is found mainly in open scrub habitats, usually perched on the tops of thorny bushes in search of prey.

Long-tailed Shrike (Mainit). Also shot in La Union, Tadian and Guina-ang, Tarar is widely distributed across the Asian mainland and the eastern archipelagos. Spotted in Chonglian, Guina-ang, Kafagway and Tadian.

Warbling White-eye (Mainit). Also in Baguio and Bontoc. A small passerine bird that ranges across much of East Asia. Found feeding on wild fruit and nectar of thorny bushes on the hill overlooking the Ingawa rice fields.

Striated Grassbird (La Union). Recently reported from Maligcong. Likes farm fields, scrubby edge, and dense thickets. I spotted this when it perched briefly on a thornbush by the non-flowing Caba River.

Striated Swallow (Mainit). Found in open often hilly areas with clearings and cultivation across Southeast Asia to Bhutan and Taiwan. This little boss was soaring the skies above the Luag (main hotspring) in Chonglian.

Pacific Swallow (Guina-ang). It breeds in tropical southern Asia and the islands of the south Pacific. It is resident in towns as well as farm fields and forests but move locally with the seasons from the coasts to forested uplands. This pair was shot on the electric cables over Litangfan road, a now common perch.

Whiskered Treeswift (Mainit). A forest-living species which frequents small open corridors such as tracks or streams, but also follows the vegetation up around the highest emergent crowns in evergreen forest. This species occurs from plains up to 1000-1100 metres on slopes. Feeding on insects this bird hunts from perches with good all-round vision of the surroundings. This elegant bird was eyeing me from its perch in the high canopy of a hardy pine along the steep banks of Balitian River in the foothills of Mount Bandilaan.

Zebra Dove (La Union). Native to Southeast Asia, it inhabits scrub, farmland, and open country in lowland areas and is not commonly seen in dense forests. The rare reported sighting in Mount Polis in 2001 may be of a bird attempting to establish a habitat away from the traps of the dreaded cagebird industry.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Guina-ang). Also shot in Baguio, Bontoc and La Union. Found mostly in Asia and Europe, this bird was introduced to the Philippines. Mayang simbahan (Church sparrow) is now a most common bird in the cities and towns including the highland villages.

Intercontinental species or global migrants. Well-travelled frequent flyers to and from the far corners of Earth.

Olive-backed Sunbird (Mainit). Found from Southern Asia to Australia. Tiny and active sunbird of forest edges, parks, and gardens; the most common urban sunbird throughout most of its range. Only sunbird species in Australia

Brahminy Kite (La Union) is found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia. This  kite is widespread and a familiar sight in the skies during their residency. They move with the seasons, with rainfall in some parts of their range. They are seen from the low coastal plains to the high mountains. Photo from Caba. A Lava-an patrolling the Chico River next to the Albago highway in Balili flew past my ride to say g’day.

Arctic Warbler (Mainit). This warbler is strongly migratory; the entire population winters in tropical foothills, forest edge, and gardens, primarily in southeast Asia. It therefore has one of the longest migrations of any 'Old World' insectivorous bird.

Blue Rock Thrush (Mainit). This chat is the official national bird of Malta. This thrush-like flycatcher breeds in southern Europe, northwest Africa, and from Central Asia to northern China and Malaysia. This Blue Rock Thrush inhabits the cliffs and steep rocky slopes of Sagang Hill leading to the proposed Chonglian High School site.

Olive-backed Pipit (Mainit). A small passerine bird that breeds at the edge of coniferous forest, along river banks and on fringes of bogs and marshes. It nests on slopes with grass and ferns, also on rocky ground and in clearings in open forest of pine, and in shady parts of paddyfields.

Grey Wagtail (Mainit). Also in Guina-ang. The city bird of Hita, Oita in Japan. This species breeds near fast-flowing streams and rivers both in wooded and in open country, but mainly in hilly and mountainous areas. On the high way to Bandila-an, I found this Tegtegey hunting the waters of the rock-lined mountain stream feeding into upstream Balitian River.

Barn Swallow (Mainit). Also seen in La Union. The national bird of Austria and Estonia, and the official city bird of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka, Japan. It is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. The species usually avoids densely populated areas and obviously occurs in the highland towns and forested mountain passes. It is a bird of open country that prefers areas with a good supply of accessible artificial structures, such as agamang (rice barns) and bridges for nesting. It likes overhead wires or bare branches and twigs for perching, sunning and preening.

Chestnut Munia (Bontoc). Flock seen in a beach on the South China Sea in La Union. Native to southeastern Asia but introduced elsewhere, this former Ms Philippines (mayang pula) is often seen in flocks in rice fields. Photo is of Tilin aka Ms Khadchog Fields.

Crested Myna (Bontoc). Also seen in Baguio. A starling native to southeastern China and Southeast Asia. Its range extends to other regions including South Korea and Japan. This bird was found in the highway café across the Chico River from the ricefields of Khadchog. Also seen in John Hay in Baguio.

Large-billed Crow (Guina-ang). Uwak occurs in woodland, parks and gardens, cultivated regions with at least some trees. When fruit trees start to ripen, the Gayang cannot resist yet volunteers to assist in picking, even against orders to cease and desist.

Spotted Dove (La Union). A common resident breeding bird found in open forests and fields across its native range on the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia. The species has been introduced to many parts of the world and feral populations have become established including in Australia.

Rock dove (La Union) Simply referred to as the "pigeon" or kalapati. Escaped domestic pigeons have increased the populations of feral pigeons around the world.

Other people have reported these birds below from Mountain Province but remain unconfirmed.

Cattle Egret (La Union) Found in the tropics, subtropics, and warm-temperate zones. Their feeding habitats include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands, and rice paddies. They often accompany carabao (water buffalo) and other cattle or other large mammals, catching insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations are migratory but in many areas, populations can be both sedentary and migratory. Sighted from a passenger seat driving past ricefields in Bauko and Tadian. Reported from Mount Polis in 2001 but doubtful.

Little Egret (La Union). An aquatic bird, Tagak breeds colonially, in wetlands in warm temperate to tropical parts of Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia including Taiwan where it is the official city bird of New Taipei. Doubtful reported sighting from Sagada in 2020.

Collared kingfisher (La Union). Salaksak or kasaykasay has a wide range extending from the Red Sea across southern Asia to Polynesia. The Collared Kingfisher is the most common and conspicuous of the resident kingfishers and can be found in a variety of habitats from coastlines to open country and the mountains. Reportedly in Sagada in 2016 but also very doubtful.

Common Sandpiper (La Union) eye-sight test. A small wader that breeds across most of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia. It migrates to Africa, southern Asia and Australia in winter. Another doubtful report from Ab-ab bridge (Bay-yo) in 2014.

Photos taken outside the province (location as noted) were shot on an exploration of the reaches of Balili River, commencing at its mouth at Lingayen Gulf on the South China Sea. I tracked this river upstream and found myself in  Balili, a border town between La Trinidad and Baguio. But this Balili was in Benguet province, not in Mountain Province. So I wandered to Trinidad and Tobago, I mean to Baguio, for a bit. I also shot a few birds there in Kafagway before I got fogged away. I retraced my steps down to the lowlands in the western foothills of the Cordillera mountain range in La Union and Ilocos Sur. The roundabout route climbed up Bessang Pass then rolled down to Cervantes. From here I ascended up the steep mountains through Tadian, Bauko, Sabangan and finally Balili, in Mountain Province! The final leg of my birding journey was from Khadchog, Churya-a, Litangfan, then via Balitian to Chonglian and places in between.

Comments welcome.