Birds of Palawan

ZOOGEOGRAPHY

Bio 159

Number of species: 273 Number of endemics: 15 Number of globally threatened species: 12 Number of introduced species: 1 These islands constitute the easternmost extension 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.

 The vegetation on Palawan includes tropical lowland evergreen rain forest, lowland semi-deciduous (seasonal/monsoon) forest, montane forest at 8001,500 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.

Threats and conservation

Palawan is the most forested island in the Philippines with satellite data from 1988 showing 54% 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 appear to tolerate degraded forest or secondary habitats, are classified as threatened.

VU Palawan Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron napoleonis

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic? Vulnerable Phasianidae (Grouse, pheasants and partridges) Lesson, 1831 mature individuals Decreasing 11,500 km2 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-dominated dwarf 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).

VU Grey Imperial-pigeon Ducula pickeringii

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic? Vulnerable Columbidae (Doves and pigeons) (Cassin, 1854) 1500-7000 mature individuals Decreasing 4,000 km2 No

It inhabits a variety of lowland, primary forest-types, also frequenting secondary forest 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.

LC Ashy-headed Babbler Malacocincla cinereiceps

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic? Least Concern Timaliidae (Babblers and parrotbills) (Tweeddale, 1878) Unknown mature individuals Decreasing 12,100 km2 Yes

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.

NT Blue Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone cyanescens

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category
Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic? Near Threatened Monarchidae (Monarchs) (Sharpe, 1877) Unknown mature individuals Decreasing 8,300 km2 Yes

This species is confined to primary and secondary forest, mostly in the lowerlying 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.

VU LC Palawan Flycatcher Ficedula platenae

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic? Vulnerable Muscicapidae (Chats and Old World flycatchers) (Blasius, 1888) 6000-15000 mature individuals Decreasing 11,500 km2 Yes

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.

VU LC Palawan Hornbill Anthracoceros marchei

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Vulnerable

Family
Species name author

Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
Oustalet, 1885 1500-7000 mature individuals Decreasing 13,400 km2 Yes

Population size
Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic?

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).

VU LC Grey-backed Tailorbird Orthotomus derbianus

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Least Concern

Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic?

Sylviidae (Old World warblers) Moore, 1855 Unknown mature individuals Stable 61,000 km2 Yes

The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

VU LC Blue-headed Racquet-tail Prioniturus platenae

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author

Vulnerable

Psittacidae (Parrots) Blasius, 1888 1500-7000 mature individuals Decreasing

Population size

Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic?

13,600 km2

Yes

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.

VU LC Falcated Wren-babbler Ptilocichla falcata

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Vulnerable

Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic?

Timaliidae (Babblers and parrotbills) Sharpe, 1877 10000-19999 mature individuals Decreasing 6,000 km2 Yes

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.

VU LC Palawan Blue-flycatcher Cyornis lemprieri NT

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Near Threatened

Family

Muscicapidae (Chats and Old World flycatchers)

(Sharpe, 1884) Unknown mature individuals Decreasing 11,000 km2

Species name author

Population size

Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic?

Yes

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.

VU LC Palawan Swiftlet Collocalia palawanensis

Key facts

Current IUCN Red List category

Family

Least Concern Apodidae (Swifts)

Species name author

Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic?

Stresemann, 1914
Unknown mature individuals Stable

11,800 km2
Yes

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).

VU LC Sulphur-bellied Bulbul Ixos palawanensis

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author Population size Population trend Least Concern Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls) (Tweeddale, 1878) Unknown mature individuals Decreasing 11,500 km2 Yes

Distribution size (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

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).

VU LC Yellow-throated Leafbird Chloropsis palawanensis

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author

Least Concern

Chloropseidae (Leafbirds) (Sharpe, 1877) Unknown mature individuals Decreasing

Population size

Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic?

13,500 km2

Yes

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).

VU LC White-vented Shama Copsychus niger

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic? Least Concern Muscicapidae (Chats and Old World flycatchers) (Sharpe, 1877) Unknown mature individuals Decreasing 13,700 km2 Yes

The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

VU LC Palawan Scops-owl Otus fuliginosus NT

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic? Near Threatened Strigidae (Owls) (Sharpe, 1888) 10000-19999 mature individuals Decreasing 8,600 km2 Yes

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.

VU LC Palawan Striped-babbler Stachyris hypogrammica NT

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Near Threatened

Family Species name author

Timaliidae (Babblers and parrotbills) Salomonsen, 1961

Population size
Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic?

Unknown mature individuals

Stable 260 km2 Yes

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.

VU LC Palawan Tit Parus amabilis NT

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic? Near Threatened Paridae (Tits and chickadees) Sharpe, 1877 Unknown mature individuals Decreasing 14,300 km2 Yes

This species occurs in primary evergreen forest in the lowlands, and its occurrence at higher elevations remains to be confirmed. Levels of tolerance of secondary or logged forest are also poorly understood.

VU LC Mantanani Scops-owl Otus mantananensis NT

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Near Threatened

Family
Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic?

Strigidae (Owls)
(Sharpe, 1892) 6000-15000 mature individuals Decreasing 2,000 km2 No

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.

VU LC Melodious Babbler Malacopteron palawanense NT

Key facts
Current IUCN Red List category Family Species name author Population size Population trend Distribution size (breeding/resident) Country endemic? Near Threatened Timaliidae (Babblers and parrotbills) B Unknown mature individuals Decreasing 3,500 km2 Yes

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.

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