Philippine oriole | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Oriolidae |
Genus: | Oriolus |
Species: | O. steerii |
Binomial name | |
Oriolus steerii Sharpe, 1877 | |
Synonyms | |
The Philippine oriole (Oriolus steerii) or grey-throated oriole is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae. It is endemic to the Philippine found on Mindanao and most of the Visayan Islands.
Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. The species is fairly common throughout its range, but the Cebu race (O. s. assimilis) was last sighted in 1906 and is now classified as extinct.
EBird describes the bird as "Medium-sized brownish swiftlet with a weakly forked tail. Found only in the Philippine lowlands. Typically encountered alone or in loose groups over various open habitats, often soaring high. Fairly uniform brown plumage, lack of a pale rump, and size distinguish this species from most others in the area; Philippine Swiftlet is the most similar but is smaller, has a more square-tipped tail, and generally favors higher elevations (typically 700 meters and above)."
First described by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1877, the Philippine oriole is a member of the genus Oriolus . Some authorities have considered it to be conspecific with, or as a subspecies of, the dark-throated oriole. [3] These two species may form a superspecies with the Isabela oriole. [4]
Five subspecies are recognized: [5]
Its diet has not yet been recorded but it is presumed to feed on insects, fruits, nectar and berries. Occurs singly, in small groups or with mixed-species flocks of other medium sized birds like Bar-bellied cuckooshrike, Black-bibbed cicadabird and Philippine leafbird.
There is no information about its breeding habits and nesting. [6]
This species habitat is primary and secondary forest up to 1,200 meters above sea level.
IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species with the population believed to be stable. However, deforestation in the Philippines continues throughout the country due to slash and burn farming, mining, illegal logging and habitat conversion. This species is still trapped for the pet trade.
It is found in multiple protected areas such as Pasonanca Natural Park, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Northern Negros Natural Park and Samar Island Natural Park but like all areas in the Philippines, protection is lax and deforestation continues despite this protection on paper. [7]
The black-naped oriole is a passerine bird in the oriole family that is found in many parts of Asia. There are several distinctive populations within the wide distribution range of this species and in the past the slender-billed oriole was included as a subspecies. Unlike the Indian golden oriole which only has a short and narrow eye-stripe, the black-naped oriole has the stripe broadening and joining at the back of the neck. Males and females are very similar although the wing lining of the female is more greenish. The bill is pink and is stouter than in the golden oriole.
The Isabela oriole is a species of the oriole family endemic to Luzon in the Philippines. It is an oriole identified by its yellowish green plumage and a very large gray bill. This species was presumed to be extinct for many years until its rediscovery in December 1993 near Diffun, Quirino, and in Mansarong in September 1994. Additional sightings were made in San Mariano, Isabela. and Baggao, Cagayan Valley It It is found in moist lowland forest up to 440 masl. It is critically endangered with estimates of just 50 to 250 mature individuals remaining. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
The blue-crowned racket-tail is a parrot found endemic to the Philippines. It is 27cm, basically green with a blue crown, bluish undertail, whitish beak, and dark underwings with green coverts. It was formerly conspecific with, Mindoro racket-tail and Blue-headed racket-tail
The yellowish bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on East Visayas, Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. The birds of the Sulu archipelago are sometimes considered a separate species called the Sulu bulbul. This species is declining due to habitat loss.
The streak-breasted bulbul is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae.
The amethyst brown dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae.
The rufous-lored kingfisher, also known as Winchell's kingfisher, is a species of bird in the kingfisher family Alcedinidae. It is endemic to the Philippines, its natural habitat being lowland forests. It is threatened by deforestation, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a vulnerable species.
The handsome sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
The Philippine leafbird is a species of bird in the family Chloropseidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It is found in the islands of Mindanao, Leyte, Samar and Cebu. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Visayan broadbill is a species of bird in the family Eurylaimidae where it was previously conspecific with the wattled broadbill. It is endemic to the islands of Samar, Leyte and Bohol in the central Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The celestial monarch is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae, and one of the most attractive of all the monarch flycatchers. It is identified as a turquoise blue bird with a long and spectacular cerulean blue crest and large greenish-yellow wattle. It is endemic to the Philippines with its extant range being in Luzon, Samar, Mindanao Tawi-Tawi and Basilan and it being possibly extinct on Negros and Sibuyan Island.Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests up to 750 masl. There is an unverified report of this bird in 2024 in Leyte. It is one of the most sought after birds by birdwatchers in the Philippines and in the world.
The dark-throated oriole is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae.
The yellow-bellied whistler, or Philippine whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae that is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and the lower reaches tropical moist montane forest.
The azure-breasted pitta is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is a striking and colorful bird having colors of red, azure, green, black and white, It is endemic to the islands of Mindanao, Bohol, Leyte and Samar in the Philippines. Along with the Whiskered pitta, it is one of two endemic pittas in the country. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The rusty-crowned babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is native to the southern Philippines on the islands of Mindanao and Dinagat Islands and Basilan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest.
The rufous paradise flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests.
The Philippine drongo-cuckoo is a bird of the cuckoo family found only in the Philippines. It was formerly a subspecies of the Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo. It is found tropical moist lowland forest up to 1,000 meters above sea level. It is declining due to habitat loss.
The Cebu boobook or Cebu hawk-owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl, but was reclassified in 2012, as voice and other data suggested placement in a distinct species.
The ventriloquial oriole is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae.