This article is one of a series providing information about endemism among birds in the world's various zoogeographic zones.
Under the most up-to-date taxonomy, there are 237 bird species endemic to the Philippines. Many of these are restricted to specific islands, particularly Luzon, Mindanao, and Palawan. [1] The number of endemic species recognized in the Philippines has increased in recent years, mainly due to "splits" of species and, to a much lesser extent, due to the discovery of previously unknown species. [2] An example of splitting is the division of the erstwhile species Philippine hawk-owl (Ninox scutulata) into seven species, now called by the name of this-or-that boobook (Luzon boobook, Mindoro boobook, etc. see the list below). Another example is the split of the erstwhile tarictric hornbill ( Penelopides panini ), itself a Philippines endemic, into four or five separate species (Visayan hornbill, Luzon hornbill, Mindoro hornbill, Mindanao hornbill and possibly Samar hornbill, whose status as distinct from Mindanao hornbill is being debated). The split of the greater flameback ( Chrysocolaptes lucidus ) is another example. The greater flameback has been split into eight species, four of which are endemic to the Philippines (Luzon flameback, yellow-faced flameback, buff-spotted flameback and red-headed flameback).
In addition to the splitting, there has been much taxonomic reassignment of species to new families, particularly affecting the babblers, many of which have now been assigned to Locustellidae (grass warblers) or Zosteropidae (white-eyes).
However the taxonomy is organized, very few countries exceed the Philippines in number of endemic bird species. Indonesia, Brazil and Australia exceed the Philippines, but these are much larger countries. [3] There are seven distinct Endemic Bird Areas in the Philippines: (1) Mindoro, (2) Luzon, (3) Negros and Panay, (4) Cebu, (5) Mindanao and the Eastern Visayas, (6) the Sulu Archipelago and (7) Palawan. [4]
In the context of Philippines bird endemics, the rhabdornis merit special discussion. The affinities of these birds with other species has long been under debate. In the past, many taxonomists considered the rhabdornis to form a distinct endemic family of birds restricted to the Philippines (Rhabdornithidae). [5] Other taxonomists have considered the rhabdornis' to be a form of creeper (Certhiidae). [6] Recent study tends to consider the rhabdornis to form a genus within the starling family (Sturnidae), although this view may be subject to further revision. [7] Four species of rhabdornis are currently recognized (strip-sided, long-billed, stripe-breasted and Visayan). Whether or not the rhabdornis represent an endemic Philippines family, the four rhabdornis species are all endemic to the Philippines.
Many species of Philippine birds are also found in the Talaud Islands north of Sulawesi, which are part of Indonesia. Technically, those birds are not Philippine endemics. However, considering the small size and remote location of the Talaud Islands, it may be justified to consider those species as Philippine endemics for practical purposes. Individual cases are discussed below.
Many of the Philippine endemic species are rare and endangered; two of the birds are possibly extinct.
The species listed follow the taxonomic order of A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines by Robert Kennedy et al. The English names of some birds have been subject to recent change; in those cases an "also-known-as" (aka) is indicated. Some deviation from the Kennedy taxonomic order has been necessary due to reassignment of species to different families by the International Ornithological Committee.