List of birds of the Philippines

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

Megapodes

Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae

The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black coloring.

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

Grebes

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

Pigeons and doves

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Cuckoos

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Frogmouths

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Podargidae

The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named for their large flattened hooked bill and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects.

Nightjars and allies

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Swifts

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Treeswifts

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Hemiprocnidae

The treeswifts, also called crested swifts, are closely related to the true swifts. They differ from the other swifts in that they have crests, long forked tails and softer plumage.

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Cranes

Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

Thick-knees

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Stilts and avocets

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

Oystercatchers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Plovers and lapwings

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Painted-snipes

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly colored.

Jacanas

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

Sandpipers and allies

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Buttonquail

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Turnicidae

The buttonquail are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

Skuas and jaegers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with gray or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Tropicbirds

Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.

Northern storm-petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae

Storm-petrels are small birds which spend most of their lives at sea, coming ashore only to breed. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering or pattering across the water. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

Storks

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

Frigatebirds

Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

Boobies and gannets

Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

Anhingas

Order: SuliformesFamily: Anhingidae

Anhingas or darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.

Cormorants and shags

Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage coloration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colorful.

Pelicans

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. They have webbed feet with four toes.

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

Osprey

Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Barn-owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

Trogons

Order: TrogoniformesFamily: Trogonidae

The family Trogonidae includes trogons and quetzals. Found in tropical woodlands worldwide, they feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons have soft, often colorful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage.

Hoopoes

Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink coloring with a large erectile crest on their head.

Hornbills

Order: BucerotiformesFamily: Bucerotidae

Hornbills are a group of birds whose bill is shaped like a cow's horn, but without a twist, sometimes with a casque on the upper mandible. Frequently, the bill is brightly colored. All ten of the Philippine hornbills are endemic.

Kingfishers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

Bee-eaters

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterized by richly colored plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colorful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

Rollers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colorful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

Asian barbets

Order: PiciformesFamily: Megalaimidae

The Asian barbets are plump birds, with short necks and large heads. They get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. Most species are brightly colored.

Woodpeckers

Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

Falcons and caracaras

Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Cockatoos

Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Cacatuidae

The cockatoos share many features with other parrots including the characteristic curved beak shape and a zygodactyl foot, with two forward toes and two backwards toes. They differ, however, in a number of characteristics, including the often spectacular movable headcrest.

Old World parrots

Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm to 1 m in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

Asian and Grauer's broadbills

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Eurylaimidae

The broadbills are small, brightly colored birds, which feed on fruit and also take insects in flycatcher fashion, snapping their broad bills. Their habitat is canopies of wet forests.

Pittas

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pittidae

Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly colored. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates.

Thornbills and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Acanthizidae

Thornbills are small passerine birds, similar in habits to the tits.

Cuckooshrikes

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly grayish with white and black, although some species are brightly colored.

Whistlers and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pachycephalidae

The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrikethrushes, and some of the pitohuis.

Old World orioles

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colorful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

Woodswallows, bellmagpies, and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Artamidae

The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-colored passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings.

Ioras

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Aegithinidae

The ioras are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub, but whereas that group tends to be drab in coloration, ioras are sexually dimorphic, with the males being brightly plumaged in yellows and greens.

Fantails

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Rhipiduridae

The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders. There are 7 species which have been recorded in the Philippines.

Drongos

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark gray in color, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

Monarch flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

Shrikes

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

• Tiger shrike, Lanius tigrinus (A)
• Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus
• Long-tailed shrike, Lanius schach
• Mountain shrike, Lanius validirostris (E)

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Palawan crow, Corvus pusillus
• Sierra Madre crow, Corvus sierramadrensis
• Small crow, Corvus samarensis
• Philippine jungle crow, Corvus philippinus

Fairy flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Stenostiridae

Are a family of small passerine birds classified as a result of recent discoveries in molecular systematics. They are also referred to as stenostirid warblers.

• Citrine canary-flycatcher, Culicicapa helianthea

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

• Elegant tit, Pardaliparus elegans (E)
• Palawan tit, Pardaliparus amabilis (E)
• White-fronted tit, Sittiparus semilarvatus (E)

Larks

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds. There are 91 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the Philippines.

• Horsfield's bushlark, Mirafra javanica
• Oriental skylark, Alauda gulgula

Cisticolas and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or gray appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

• Leyte plumed-warbler, Micromacronus leytensis (E)
• Mindanao plumed-warbler, Micromacronus sordidus (E)
• Rufous-fronted tailorbird, Orthotomus frontalis (E)
• Ashy tailorbird, Orthotomus ruficeps
• Rufous-tailed tailorbird, Orthotomus sericeus
• Visayan tailorbird, Orthotomus castaneiceps (E)
• Gray-backed tailorbird, Orthotomus derbianus (E)
• Green-backed tailorbird, Orthotomus chloronotus (E)
• Yellow-breasted tailorbird, Orthotomus samarensis (E)
• White-browed tailorbird, Orthotomus nigriceps (E)
• White-eared tailorbird, Orthotomus cinereiceps (E)
• Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
• Golden-headed cisticola, Cisticola exilis

Reed warblers and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

• Black-browed reed warbler, Acrocephalus bistrigiceps (A)
• Streaked reed warbler, Acrocephalus sorghophilus
• Oriental reed warbler, Acrocephalus orientalis
• Clamorous reed warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus

Grassbirds and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

• Cordillera ground-warbler, Robsonius rabori
• Sierra Madre ground-warbler, Robsonius thompsoni (E)
• Bicol ground-warbler, Robsonius sorsogonensis
• Tawny grassbird, Cincloramphus timoriensis
• Striated grassbird, Megalurus palustris
• Gray's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes fasciolatus
• Sakhalin grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes amnicola
• Pallas's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes certhiola (A)
• Middendorff's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes ochotensis
• Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata
• Long-tailed bush warbler, Locustella caudatus (E)
• Benguet bush warbler, Locustella seebohmi (E)

Swallows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

• Gray-throated martin, Riparia chinensis
• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitica
• Striated swallow, Cecropis striolata
• Asian house-martin, Delichon dasypus (A)

Bulbuls

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colorful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

• Yellow-wattled bulbul, Brachypodius urostictus (E)
• Black-headed bulbul, Brachypodius melanocephalos
• Light-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus sinensis (A)
• Yellow-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus goiavier
• Olive-winged bulbul, Pycnonotus plumosus
• Ashy-fronted bulbul, Pycnonotus cinereifrons (E)
• Gray-throated bulbul, Alophoixus frater (E)
• Sulphur-bellied bulbul, Iole palawanensis (E)
• Black bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus (A)
• Brown-eared bulbul, Hypsipetes amaurotis
• Visayan bulbul, Hypsipetes guimarasensis (E)
• Zamboanga bulbul, Hypsipetes rufigularis (E)
• Yellowish bulbul, Hypsipetes everetti (E)
• Mindoro bulbul, Hypsipetes mindorensis (E)
• Streak-breasted bulbul, Hypsipetes siquijorensis (E)
• Philippine bulbul, Hypsipetes philippinus

Leaf warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colors.

• Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (A)
• Radde's warbler, Phylloscopus schwarzi (A)
• Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (A)
• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus (A)
• Lemon-throated leaf warbler, Phylloscopus cebuensis (E)
• Philippine leaf warbler, Phylloscopus olivaceus (E)
• Ijima's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus ijimae
• Japanese leaf warbler, Phylloscopus xanthodryas
• Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis
• Kamchatka leaf warbler, Phylloscopus examinandus
• Yellow-breasted warbler, Phylloscopus montis
• Negros leaf warbler, Phylloscopus nigrorum (E)

Bush warblers and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.

• Asian stubtail, Urosphena squameiceps (A)
• Yellow-bellied warbler, Abroscopus superciliaris
• Mountain tailorbird, Phyllergates cucullatus
• Rufous-headed tailorbird, Phyllergates heterolaemus (E)
• Philippine bush warbler, Horornis seebohmi (E)
• Japanese bush warbler, Horornis diphone
• Manchurian bush warbler, Horornis borealis
• Aberrant bush warbler, Horornis flavolivaceus

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull color like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.

• Chestnut-faced babbler, Zosterornis whiteheadi (E)
• Luzon striped-babbler, Zosterornis striatus (E)
• Panay striped-babbler, Zosterornis latistriatus (E)
• Negros striped-babbler, Zosterornis nigrorum (E)
• Palawan striped-babbler, Zosterornis hypogrammicus (E)
• Mindanao white-eye, Heleia goodfellowi (E)
• Golden-crowned babbler, Sterrhoptilus dennistouni (E)
• Black-crowned babbler, Sterrhoptilus nigrocapitatus (E)
• Rusty-crowned babbler, Sterrhoptilus capitalis (E)
• Flame-templed babbler, Dasycrotapha speciosa (E)
• Visayan pygmy-babbler, Dasycrotapha pygmaea (E)
• Mindanao pygmy-babbler, Dasycrotapha plateni (E)
• Warbling white-eye, Zosterops japonicus
• Lowland white-eye, Zosterops meyeni (E)
• Everett's white-eye, Zosterops everetti
• Yellowish white-eye, Zosterops nigrorum (E)

Tree-babblers, scimitar-babblers, and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Timaliidae

The babblers, or timaliids, are somewhat diverse in size and coloration, but are characterized by soft fluffy plumage.

• Pin-striped tit-babbler, Macronus gularis
• Bold-striped tit-babbler, Macronus bornensis
• Brown tit-babbler, Macronus striaticeps (E)

Ground babblers and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Pellorneidae

These small to medium-sized songbirds have soft fluffy plumage but are otherwise rather diverse. Members of the genus Illadopsis are found in forests, but some other genera are birds of scrublands.

• Palawan babbler, Malacopteron palawanense (E)
• Ashy-headed babbler, Malacocincla cinereiceps (E)
• Striated wren-babbler, Ptilocichla mindanensis (E)
• Falcated wren-babbler, Ptilocichla falcata (E)

Nuthatches

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.

• Velvet-fronted nuthatch, Sitta frontalis
• Sulphur-billed nuthatch, Sitta oenochlamys (E)

Starlings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

• Stripe-sided rhabdornis, Rhabdornis mysticalis (E)
• Long-billed rhabdornis, Rhabdornis grandis (E)
• Stripe-breasted rhabdornis, Rhabdornis inornatus
• Visayan rhabdornis, Rhabdornis rabori (E)
• Asian glossy starling, Aplonis panayensis
• Short-tailed starling, Aplonis minor
• Apo myna, Basilornis miranda (E)
• Coleto, Sarcops calvus (E)
• Common hill myna, Gracula religiosa
• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (A)
• Rosy starling, Pastor roseus (A)
• Daurian starling, Agropsar sturninus (A)
• Chestnut-cheeked starling, Agropsar philippensis
• White-shouldered starling, Sturnia sinensis (A)
• Chestnut-tailed starling, Sturnia malabarica (A)
• Red-billed starling, Spodiopsar sericeus (A)
• White-cheeked starling, Spodiopsar cineraceus (A)
• Common myna, Acridotheres tristis (A)
• Crested myna, Acridotheres cristatellus (I)

Thrushes and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

• Sunda thrush, Zoothera andromedae
• White's thrush, Zoothera aurea
• Siberian thrush, Geokichla sibirica (A)
• Ashy thrush, Geokichla cinerea (E)
• Chestnut-capped thrush, Geokichla interpres
• Chinese blackbird, Turdus mandarinus (A)
• Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus
• Brown-headed thrush, Turdus chrysolaus
• Pale thrush, Turdus pallidus
• Mindoro island thrush, Turdus mindorensis (E)
• Luzon island thrush, Turdus thomassoni (E)
• Mindanao island thrush, Turdus nigrorum (E)
• Red-throated thrush, Turdus ruficollis (A)
• Dusky thrush, Turdus eunomus (A)
• Naumann's thrush, Turdus naumanni (A)

Old World flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

• Gray-streaked flycatcher, Muscicapa griseisticta
• Dark-sided flycatcher, Muscicapa sibirica
• Ferruginous flycatcher, Muscicapa ferruginea
• Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica
• Ashy-breasted flycatcher, Muscicapa randi (E)
• Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata (A)
• Philippine magpie-robin, Copsychus mindanensis (E)
• White-browed shama, Copsychus luzoniensis (E)
• Visayan shama, Copsychus superciliaris (E)
• White-vented shama, Copsychus niger (E)
• Black shama, Copsychus cebuensis (E)
• Blue-breasted flycatcher, Cyornis herioti (E)
• Palawan blue flycatcher, Cyornis lemprieri (E)
• Mangrove blue flycatcher, Cyornis rufigastra
• Chestnut-tailed jungle flycatcher, Cyornis ruficauda
• Blue-and-white flycatcher, Cyanoptila cyanomelana
• Zappey's flycatcher, Cyanoptila cumatilis
• Verditer flycatcher, Eumyias thalassinus (A)
• Turquoise flycatcher, Eumyias panayensis
• Bagobo robin, Leonardina woodi (E)
• Rusty-flanked jungle-flycatcher, Vauriella insignis (E)
• Negros jungle-flycatcher, Vauriella albigularis (E)
• Mindanao jungle-flycatcher, Vauriella goodfellowi (E)
• Philippine shortwing, Brachypteryx poliogyna (E)
• Siberian blue robin, Larvivora cyane
• Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica (A)
• Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope
• Yellow-rumped flycatcher, Ficedula zanthopygia (A)
• Narcissus flycatcher, Ficedula narcissina
• Mugimaki flycatcher, Ficedula mugimaki
• Little pied flycatcher, Ficedula westermanni
• Taiga flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla (A)
• Palawan flycatcher, Ficedula platenae (E)
• Furtive flycatcher, Ficedula disposita (E)
• Little slaty flycatcher, Ficedula basilanica (E)
• Cryptic flycatcher, Ficedula crypta (E)
• Bundok flycatcher, Ficedula luzoniensis (E)
• Luzon redstart, Phoenicurus bicolor (E)
• Daurian redstart, Phoenicurus auroreus (A)
• Blue rock-thrush, Monticola solitarius
• Snowy-browed flycatcher, Ficedula hyperythra
• Amur stonechat, Saxicola stejnegeri
• Pied bushchat, Saxicola caprata
• Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (A)

Waxwings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. These tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

• Japanese waxwing, Bombycilla japonica (A)

Flowerpeckers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Dicaeidae

The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly colored birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues.

• Olive-backed flowerpecker, Prionochilus olivaceus (E)
• Palawan flowerpecker, Prionochilus plateni (E)
• Thick-billed flowerpecker, Dicaeum agile
• Whiskered flowerpecker, Dicaeum proprium (E)
• Olive-capped flowerpecker, Dicaeum nigrilore (E)
• Flame-crowned flowerpecker, Dicaeum anthonyi (E)
• Bicolored flowerpecker, Dicaeum bicolor (E)
• Cebu flowerpecker, Dicaeum quadricolor (E)
• Red-keeled flowerpecker, Dicaeum australe (E)
• Black-belted flowerpecker, Dicaeum haematostictum (E)
• Scarlet-collared flowerpecker, Dicaeum retrocinctum (E)
• Orange-bellied flowerpecker, Dicaeum trigonostigma
• White-bellied flowerpecker, Dicaeum hypoleucum (E)
• Pygmy flowerpecker, Dicaeum pygmaeum (E)
• Fire-breasted flowerpecker, Dicaeum ignipectus

Sunbirds and spiderhunters

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

• Brown-throated sunbird, Anthreptes malacensis
• Gray-throated sunbird, Anthreptes griseigularis
• Purple-throated sunbird, Leptocoma sperata (E)
• Copper-throated sunbird, Leptocoma calcostetha
• Olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis
• Lovely sunbird, Aethopyga shelleyi (E)
• Magnificent sunbird, Aethopyga magnifica (E)
• Handsome sunbird, Aethopyga bella (E)
• Flaming sunbird, Aethopyga flagrans
• Maroon-naped sunbird, Aethopyga guimarasensis
• Metallic-winged sunbird, Aethopyga pulcherrima (E)
• Mountain sunbird, Aethopyga jefferyi (E)
• Bohol sunbird, Aethopyga decorosa (E)
• Lina's sunbird, Aethopyga linaraborae (E)
• Gray-hooded sunbird, Aethopyga primigenia (E)
• Apo sunbird, Aethopyga boltoni
• Tboli sunbird, Aethopyga tibolii (E)
• Orange-tufted spiderhunter, Arachnothera flammifera
• Pale spiderhunter, Arachnothera dilutior (E)
• Naked-faced spiderhunter, Arachnothera clarae (E)

Fairy-bluebirds

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Irenidae

The fairy-bluebirds are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub. The males are dark-blue and the females a duller green.

• Asian fairy-bluebird, Irena puella
• Philippine fairy-bluebird, Irena cyanogaster (E)

Leafbirds

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Chloropseidae

The leafbirds are small, bulbul-like birds. The males are brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows.

• Philippine leafbird, Chloropsis flavipennis (E)
• Yellow-throated leafbird, Chloropsis palawanensis (E)

Waxbills and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns.

• Tawny-breasted parrotfinch, Erythrura hyperythra
• Pin-tailed parrotfinch, Erythrura prasina
• Green-faced parrotfinch, Erythrura viridifacies (E)
• Red-eared parrotfinch, Erythrura coloria (E)
• Dusky munia, Lonchura fuscans
• Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata
• White-bellied munia, Lonchura leucogastra
• Chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla
• Java sparrow, Padda oryzivora (I)

Old World sparrows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or gray birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• Cinnamon ibon, Hypocryptadius cinnamomeus (E)
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (I)

Wagtails and pipits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

• Forest wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus
• Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
• Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis
• Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (A)
• White wagtail, Motacilla alba
• Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi (A)
• Paddyfield pipit, Anthus rufulus
• Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni
• Pechora pipit, Anthus gustavi
• Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
• American pipit, Anthus rubescens (A)

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

• Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla (A)
• Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes (A)
• Yellow-billed grosbeak, Eophona migratoria (A)
• Japanese grosbeak, Eophona personata (A)
• Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus (A)
• White-cheeked bullfinch, Pyrrhula leucogenis (E)
• Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
• Mountain serin, Chrysocorythus estherae
• Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus (A)

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds which had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.

• Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus (A)

Old World buntings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

• Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala (A)
• Chestnut-eared bunting, Emberiza fucata (A)
• Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (A)
• Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (A)
• Yellow bunting, Emberiza sulphurata
• Black-faced bunting, Emberiza spodocephala (A)

References

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• IUCN. 2025. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2025.2. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org

References

1. Gill, F. and D. Donsker (Eds). 2019. IOC World Bird List (v 9.2). {{doi. 10.14344/IOC.ML.9.2 http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ retrieved June 22, 2019.