White-cheeked bullfinch

Last updated

White-cheeked bullfinch
White-cheeked Bullfinch.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Subfamily: Carduelinae
Genus: Pyrrhula
Species:
P. leucogenis
Binomial name
Pyrrhula leucogenis

The white-cheeked bullfinch (Pyrrhula leucogenis) 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.

Contents

Description and taxomy

PyrrhulaLeucogenisKeulemans.jpg

EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized bird of low- to mid-elevation montane forest and edge on Luzon, Panay and Mindanao. Overall pale brown with a slightly paler belly, a black face, crown, tail, bottom half of the wing, and shoulder patch, a white rump, and a prominent white cheek. Note the thick black bill. Feeds on berries and flowers and joins mixed-species flocks in the non-breeding season. No similar birds occur in its range. Voice includes medium-pitched clear, downslurred piping calls, “piuu! piuu,” sometimes with a flat first note: “piii! piuu!”" [2]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:

There is also an undescribed race in Panay.

Ecology and behavior

Diet is not well known but recorded mainly feeding on seeds, small berries, flowers and buds. Some plants and seeds it feeds on include Tithonia, Viburnum and Dendrocnide. Forages in both the cannopy and understorey alone, in pairs and small groups. This species forms larger groups in the non breeding season and moves to lower altitudes where they are often seen in groups of up to 40 feeding on the non-native Mexican sunflower.

Birds collected in breeding condition in March to April with enlarged gonads but otherwise nothing is known about this birds breeding ecology. This species nest is undescribed [3]

Habitat and conservation status

It occupies montane mossy forest above 1,250 meters above sea level. It is known to descend to lower altitudes in the breeding season and form large feeding flocks of up to 40 birds.

IUCN has assessed this bird as Least-concern as a lot of its montane habitat is difficult to access and it also has a wide range. However, it is still affected by habitat loss through deforestation, mining, land conversion and slash-and-burn - just not to the same extent as lowland forest. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-crowned racket-tail</span> Species of bird

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-tailed bush warbler</span> Species of bird

The long-tailed bush warbler also known as the Long-tailed grasshopper-warbler is a species of grass warbler. It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage. It is found only in the Philippines on the islands of Mindanao and Luzon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-capped kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The blue-capped kingfisher, also known as Hombron's kingfisher, is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae endemic to the Philippines and found only on Mindanao. It is one of the most colorful kingfishers in the country having a dark blue cap and wings with rufous spots, a striped rufous belly, white chin and red bill. Its natural habitats are on the upper ranges of tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handsome sunbird</span> Species of bird

The handsome sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-winged cuckooshrike</span> Species of bird

The white-winged cuckooshrike, also known as white-winged cicadabird or white-winged graybird, is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the islands of Negros, Panay and formerly on Guimaras. Some taxonomists place this species in the genus Analisoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-crowned flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicolored flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The bicolored flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buzzing flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The buzzing flowerpecker or white-bellied 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 or tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mindanao white-eye</span> Species of bird

The Mindanao white-eye, also known as the black-masked white-eye, is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. The specific epithet honours British zoological collector Walter Goodfellow. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulphur-billed nuthatch</span> Species of bird

The sulphur-billed nuthatch is a species of bird in the family Sittidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. It is commonly found in mixed flocks along with Blue-headed fantails, sunbirds, flowerpeckers and other small forest birds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rusty-crowned babbler</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palawan striped babbler</span> Species of bird

The Palawan striped babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is one of the four striped babblers along with the Negros striped babbler, Panay striped babbler and Luzon striped babbler. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is only found in Palawan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panay striped babbler</span> Species of bird

The Panay striped babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae and was completely unknown to science until its discovery in 1987 and designation as its own species in 1990. It is endemic to the Philippines only being found on the island of Panay. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negros striped babbler</span> Species of bird

The Negros striped babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Negros Island in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest in the range of 900–1,600 masl. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luzon striped babbler</span> Species of bird

The Luzon striped babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is one of the four striped babblers along with the Negros striped babbler, Panay striped babbler and Palawan striped babbler. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is only found in northern Luzon and in Bataan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everett's white-eye</span> Species of bird

Everett's white-eye is a bird species in the disputed family Zosteropidae, which might belong with the Old World babblers (Timaliidae). The name commemorates British colonial administrator and zoological collector Alfred Hart Everett. It is only found on the Talaud Islands, Sulu Archipelago and the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine pygmy woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The Philippine pygmy woodpecker, also known as the Philippine woodpecker, is a species of bird in the woodpecker family (Picidae). Its local name in Kapampangan is Anluage. It is endemic to the Philippines, found throughout the entire country except the Sulu Archipelago and Palawan. It is the smallest woodpecker in the country and is common throughout, found even in urban areas in cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negros leaf warbler</span> Species of bird

The Negros leaf warbler is a songbird species from the leaf warbler family (Phylloscopidae). It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flame-crowned flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The flame-crowned flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to Mindanao in the Philippines. The yellow-crowned flowerpecker, which is endemic to Luzon, was formerly considered conspecific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calabarzon babbler</span> Species of bird found in the Philippines

The Calabarzon babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found in the island of Luzon. Contrary to its name, it is also found outside the Calabarzon region where it also inhabits Central Luzon, Bicol Peninsula and Catanduanes. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It previously was considered a subspecies of the black-crowned babbler.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Pyrrhula leucogenis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22720659A94677072. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22720659A94677072.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. "White-cheeked Bullfinch - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  3. Clement, Peter (2020). "White-cheeked Bullfinch (Pyrrhula leucogenis), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.whcbul1.01. ISSN   2771-3105.
  4. IUCN (2016-10-01). Pyrrhula leucogenis: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22720659A94677072 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22720659a94677072.en.

Bibliography