Birds of Palawan

7/31/2019 Birds of Palawan

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Birds of PalawanBio 159ZOOGEOGRAPHY


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These islands constitute the easternmostextension of the Asian continental (Sunda) shelf,

and thus some of their more widespread fauna

and flora are shared with the island of Borneo to

which they were once connected.

Number of species: 273

Number of endemics: 15

Number of globally threatened species: 12Number of introduced species: 1


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The vegetation on Palawan includes tropical lowland

evergreen rain forest, lowland semi-deciduous

(seasonal/monsoon) forest, montane forest at 800-1,500 m, and forests over limestone in the south

(WWF/IUCN 1994-1995).

Restricted-range species

All the restricted-range species occur in forest,

mostly in the lowlands. All species occur on

Palawan and four are confined to this island

alone.


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Threats and conservation

Palawan is the most forested island in the

Philippines with satellite data from 1988 showing54% of land forested (Dickinson et al. 1991).

However, forest is steadily giving way to logging,

mining and agriculture owing to immigration of

people from other more crowded parts of the

country (Quinnell and Balmford 1988, Collins et al.

1991). Consequently some of the restricted-range

species, mostly lowland birds which do not appearto tolerate degraded forest or secondary habitats,

are classified as threatened.


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VU Palawan Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron napoleonisKey facts

Current IUCN Red Listcategory

Vulnerable

FamilyPhasianidae (Grouse,pheasants and partridges)

Species name author Lesson, 1831

Population size mature individuals

Population trend Decreasing

Distribution size(breeding/resident)

11,500 km2

Country endemic? Yes

It mainly inhabits primary and secondary forest on flat and rolling terrain, up to 800

m, occasionally occurring almost up to mossy forest and in Casuarina-dominateddwarf forest on serpentine rock. the species shows a strong preference for old

growth forest over advanced secondary growth, with none recorded in cultivation

(Mallari et al. 2011). The species's population density is thus positively correlated

with the density of large trees (Mallari et al. 2011).


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VU Grey Imperial-pigeon Ducula pickeringii

Key facts


Vulnerable

FamilyColumbidae (Doves andpigeons)

Species name author (Cassin, 1854)

Population size1500-7000 matureindividuals



4,000 km2

Country endemic? No

It inhabits a variety of lowland, primary forest-types, also frequenting secondaryforest and cultivated areas with trees. Little is known about its movements. It is

reportedly resident on some northern Bornean islands, but certainly moves

between Philippine islands, and varied in abundance from 1995-1997 on

Karakelang, Indonesia. Like other small-island specialists, it presumably wanders

in search of food.


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LC Ashy-headed Babbler Malacocincla cinereiceps

Key facts


Least Concern

FamilyTimaliidae (Babblers andparrotbills)

Species name author (Tweeddale, 1878)

Population sizeUnknown matureindividuals



12,100 km2


Rates of forest loss have been rapid on Palawan, but owing to

its ability to adapt to secondary growth this species is thought

to have experienced only moderately rapid declines.


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NT Blue Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone cyanescens

Key facts

Current IUCN Red List

category Near Threatened

Family Monarchidae (Monarchs)

Species name author (Sharpe, 1877)




8,300 km2


This species is confined to primary and secondary forest, mostly in the lower-

lying areas. It does not occur in isolated tracts of secondary growth. A

moderately rapid population decline is suspected to be occurring as a result

of habitat loss and degradation within the species's range, particularly given

the lack of records from isolated or fragmented secondary forests.


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Palawan Flycatcher Ficedula platenaeLCVU

Key facts


Vulnerable

FamilyMuscicapidae (Chats andOld World flycatchers)

Species name author (Blasius, 1888)




11,500 km2


It inhabits the lower storeys, up to 10 m from the ground, of lowland

primary forest up to at least 650 m, possibly favouring areas rich in rattan,bamboo and understorey palms; suggesting it may tolerate secondary or

degraded forests (R. Hutchinson in litt. 2012). However, although it has

also been recorded in secondary growth, observations suggest it is

sensitive to habitat modification.


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LC Palawan HornbillAnthracoceros marchei

Key facts


Vulnerable

Family Bucerotidae (Hornbills)

Species name author Oustalet, 1885




13,400 km2


VU

It inhabits all storeys of

forests, including secondary

growth, up to 900 m, but

probably requires large trees

for nesting. It may also

frequents mangroves,cultivated land and

bushlands,

the species was recorded to reach its highest densities in old growth

forest, followed by advanced growth secondary forest, and lowest

densities in early growth secondary forest (Mallari et al. 2011).


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LC Grey-backed Tailorbird Orthotomus derbianus

Key facts


category

Least Concern

FamilySylviidae (Old Worldwarblers)

Species name author Moore, 1855


Population trend Stable


61,000 km2


VULC

The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to

approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion

(10%

in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure).

For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.


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LC Blue-headed Racquet-tail Prioniturus platenae

Key facts


Vulnerable

Family Psittacidae (Parrots)

Species name author Blasius, 1888




13,600 km2


VUVU

This poorly-known species inhabits lowland forest, forest edge and

nearby cultivation, up to at least 300 m. On islands north of Palawan, it

has been recorded in ultrabasic forest, bamboo scrublands, mangrove

and in natural grassland with scattered trees.


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LC Falcated Wren-babbler Ptilocichla falcata

Key facts

Current IUCN Red Listcategory Vulnerable


Species name author Sharpe, 1877




6,000 km2


VUVU

It inhabits the floor and undergrowth of primary lowland forest, particularly near

to streams, gullies and ridge-tops. It has been recorded up to 1,350 m on Mt

Victoria (R. Hutchinson in litt. 2012). Recent observations suggest that it may be

very sensitive to habitat modification, although it reportedly frequents thickets,

which is likely to mean dense secondary undergrowth and bamboo forest.


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LC Palawan Blue-flycatcher Cyornis lemprieri

Key facts


categoryNear Threatened






11,000 km2


VUNT

It occurs in lowland submontane dry primary forest and second growth, to 1,000

m. It forages in the understorey of forests and birds in breeding condition have

been observed in April-June. Rates of forest loss have been rapid on Palawan, but

owing to its ability to adapt to secondary growth this species is thought to have

experienced only moderately rapid declines.


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LC Palawan Swiftlet Collocalia palawanensis

Key facts


Least Concern

Family Apodidae (Swifts)

Species name author Stresemann, 1914




11,800 km2


VULC

The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach

the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline

over ten years or three generations).


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LC Sulphur-bellied Bulbul Ixos palawanensis

Key facts

Current IUCN Red Listcategory Least Concern

Family Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)

Species name author (Tweeddale, 1878)




11,500 km2


VULC

Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline isnot believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under

the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations).


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LC Yellow-throated Leafbird Chloropsis palawanensis

Key facts


category

Least Concern

Family Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)





13,500 km2


VULC

Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the

decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds

for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten

years or three generations).


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LC White-vented Shama Copsychus niger

Key facts


Least Concern





Distribution size(breeding/resident) 13,700 km2


VULC

The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to

approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion

(10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population

structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.


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LC Palawan Scops-owl Otus fuliginosus

Key facts


Near Threatened

Family Strigidae (Owls)





8,600 km2


VUNT

Otus fuliginosus is endemic to the Philippines where it is known from Palawan and

the adjacent islands of Alabagin and Balabac, with an unconfirmed report from

Calauit (Collaret al. 1999). It is a bird of lowland forest, but can adapt to mixed

cultivation and plantations.


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LC Palawan Striped-babbler Stachyris hypogrammica

Key facts


Near Threatened


Species name author Salomonsen, 1961




260 km2


VUNT

This species occurs in primary montane forest areas (above 1,000 m) in the

south of the island. Stachyris hypogrammica is endemic to

Palawan,Philippines, where it is known from Mt Victoria, Mt Mataling, Mt

Borangbato, Mt Mantalingajan at the peak and at Magtaguimbong. Various

reports have suggested that it remains common within its limited range.


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LC Palawan Tit Parus amabilis

Key facts


categoryNear Threatened

FamilyParidae (Tits andchickadees)

Species name author Sharpe, 1877




14,300 km2


VUNT

This species occurs in primary evergreen forest in the lowlands, and itsoccurrence at higher elevations remains to be confirmed. Levels of tolerance

of secondary or logged forest are also poorly understood.


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LC Mantanani Scops-owl Otus mantananensis

Key facts


Near Threatened

Family Strigidae (Owls)




Distribution size

(breeding/resident)2,000 km2

Country endemic? No

VUNT

It is fairly common in coconut groves and other wooded habitats, although its

total area of occupancy is small. It hunts at the forest edge or in clearings,

feeding primarily on insects. Eggs are thought to be laid in March-May in a tree

cavity.


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LC Melodious Babbler Malacopteron palawanense

Key facts


Near Threatened


Species name author B



Distribution size(breeding/resident) 3,500 km2


VUNT

This species occurs in primary and old secondary lowland evergreen forest,bamboo and forest edge. It may be an extreme lowland specialist, and its

absence from apparently suitable areas in St Paul's Subterranean River

National Park suggest that an unidentified habitat specialisation may

influence its distribution.


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Reference:

BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red

Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Mallari, N. A. D.; Collar, N. J.; Lee, D. C.; McGowan, P. J. K.; Wilkinson, R.; Marsden, S. J.

2011. Population densities of understorey birds across a habitat gradient in Palawan,

Philippines: implications for conservation. Oryx45(2): 234-242

Birds of Palawan

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