Plain bush-hen | |
---|---|
in Luzon. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Gruiformes |
Family: | Rallidae |
Genus: | Amaurornis |
Species: | A. olivacea |
Binomial name | |
Amaurornis olivacea (Meyen, 1834) | |
The plain bush-hen (Amaurornis olivacea) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
EBird describes the bird as "A large ground bird of grass, scrub, and forest edge, usually close to water. Slate-gray on the head and underparts, blending to a brown back and tail. Note the greenish-yellow bill and the long yellow legs. Similar to Tabon Scrubfowl, but usually found near water and outside of forest, and distinguished by yellow legs, thicker bill, and lack of bare facial skin. Highly vocal and much more often heard than seen. Voice includes a rhythmic quacking and harsh rasps." [2]
It was formerly conspecific with the Pale-vented bush-hen but is differentiated by its much darker plummage.
This species is monotypic [3]
There have been no species specific studies on its breeding and diet but it is pressumed to have the same behaviour as the Pale-vented bush-hen. Feeds on insects, mostly earthworms and larvae, small vertebrates and vegetable matter.
Not much is known about breeding but has records almost throughout the year. Nests in swampy conditions with a cup shaped nest made of plant matter. Known to lay 4 creamy white eggs with red spots. [3]
This species occupies swampy grassland, shrubland and forest edge
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as a Least-concern species owing to its wide range despite being generally uncommon . It is recommended that this be reassessed to Data deficient as its ecology and population are basically unknown. Both wetlands and forests in the Philippines are at risk from deforestation abd land conversion. [4]
The red-vented cockatoo, also known as the Philippine cockatoo and locally katala, abukay, agay or kalangay, is a species of cockatoo. It is endemic to the Philippines formerly found throughout the entire country but due to the illegal wildlife trade it is now locally extinct in most of its range with the only sizeable population remaining in Palawan and Sulu Archipelago. There are remnant populations in Polillo Islands, Bohol and Samar. It is roughly the size and shape of the Tanimbar corella, but is easily distinguished by the red feathers around the vent. It is threatened by habitat loss and the cage-bird trade.
The white-cheeked bullfinch is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in mountain regions of the Philippines on the islands of Luzon and Mindanao. It has also been reported on the island of Panay. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forests above 1,250 meters above sea level. It is the only bullfinch found in the Philippines.
The Philippine leaf warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the family Phylloscopidae. It is endemic to the Philippines on the islands Bohol, Samar, Leyte, Negros, Mindanao, Basilan and the Sulu Archipelago.
The Philippine nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its local names are kandarapa (Tagalog) and tagolilong (Cebuano).
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 pale-vented bush-hen is a medium sized waterbird, mainly blue-grey with a buff vent and undertail. It is found in Australia, the Moluccan Islands, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The spotted buttonquail is a species of bird in the family Turnicidae. It is endemic to Philippines on the island of Luzon.
The handsome sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
The lovely sunbird is a bird species in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests.
The striped flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. It is part of the Thick-billed flowerpecker species complex and was formerly conspecific with it.
The yellow-crowned flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to Luzon Island in the Philippines. It was formerly conspecific with the Flame-crowned flowerpecker of Mindanao. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss.
The stripe-breasted rhabdornis, also known as the stripe-breasted creeper or plain-headed creeper, is a species of bird currently placed in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Mindanao, Leyte, Samar and Biliran. It is typically found in tropical montane and submontane forest but has been found as low as 230 masl in Leyte. It is part of a species complex that includes the Visayan rhabdornis and the Grand rhabdornis which were formerly subspecies of this bird.
The Mindanao blue fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is one of 47 species in the genus Rhipidura. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on the island of Mindanao and Basilan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was previously conspecific with the Visayan blue fantail.
The golden-crowned babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only in the moist tropical forest in Northern Luzon. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Mindanao pygmy babbler is a bird species endemic to the Philippines. It had been placed in the family Timaliidae, but it is a close relative of the white-eyes, however, and many taxonomists now place it in the family Zosteropidae..
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 northern sooty woodpecker is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is endemic to Luzon, Marinduque, Catanduanes and the Polillo Islands in the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests.
The chocolate boobook is a bird species in the true owl family, Strigidae. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the brown boobook. It was formerly thought to be endemic to the Philippines until it was heard and recorded Karakelang in Indonesia in 1997 but there have been no subsequent records outside the Philippines since.
The Visayan blue fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Bohol, Leyte and Samar. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was previously conspecific with the Mindanao blue fantail.
The trilling tailorbird or green-backed tailorbird is a species of bird formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, but now placed in the family Cisticolidae. The bird is endemic to the Philippines on the Northern side of the island of Luzon. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, tropical mangrove forests and secondary growth.