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Four of the top Filipino birds you must see photo by su463 (via Creative Commons)

Four of the top Filipino birds you must see

by : Nicole Brown posted :

The Philippines is home to some of the world's most beautiful birds and you might just see some during your Philippine trip. With all the lush tropical landscapes, beaches and forests, going bird watching, even for novices, is sure to be an absolute treat.

So when you book your next vacation, make sure to talk to your Philippine tour guide and he or she will be happy to give you tips and tricks for catching glimpses – and photographs – of some of the Philippines' best birds.

Until then, take a look at a sampling of some of the beauties below.

  1. Philippine eagle photo by su463 (via Creative Commons)
    Philippine eagle

    Philippine eagle

    The United States may be known for the great bald eagle but when it comes to the most flamboyant and fierce bird, the Philippine Eagle wins the battle. With long, elegant feathers in hues of cream, taupe, chocolate and white framing a gray chiseled face, it's no wonder that bird enthusiasts go crazy for this eagle. But don't let this fashion forward mug fool you.

    Locals have claimed that this bird preys on monkeys and in the old days, the eagle was referred to as the monkey-eating eagle. But after some sleuthing, it was discovered that this glamorous bird actually feasts on a wide variety of animals including lizards, rodents and even pigs.

    This bird has also climbed the ranks in society as well. And in 1995, this endemic bird native to the Philippines was named as the official bird of the country – a high honour that makes this eagle the envy of the forest.

    Want to catch a peek? The best places to look are in Mindanao, Samar, the Leyte Islands and Luzon.


  2. Pink-necked green pigeons photo by Jason Thompson (via Creative Commons)
    Pink-necked green pigeons

    Pink-necked green pigeon

    Known as a nuisance to city-dwellers all around the world, pigeons have a bad reputation. But that aside, the pink-necked green pigeon is a bird that you're going to want to see. Dubbed as the most colourful pigeon around the world, this bird is literally a walking rainbow.

    It's believed that the male pigeons are coloured this way in order to attract females but it's also believed to be useful as camouflage as well. For instance, these birds enjoy relaxing in high trees and the varied colours help the males blend into the green shrubbery and surrounding tropical flowers.

    Interested in catching a glimpse? Remember to look up as you walk through tropical rain forests in Caylabne Bay, Cavite or in Pagbilao Bay in Quezon.


  3. Blue-tailed bee-eater photo by Soumyadeep Chatterjee (via Creative Commons)
    Blue-tailed bee-eater

    Blue-tailed bee-eater

    If you've ever thumbed through a coffee table book of beautiful birds, then you already know what the blue-tailed bee-eater looks like. Mostly green, there's a hint of burnt orange colouring under the chins of these small birds with accents of bright yellow and aqua. But the most stunning part of this fast flyer is the black stripe that wraps around his head like an eye mask.

    These little guys mainly feast on bees, wasps and dragonflies. If you'd like to see these petite cuties in action, make sure to visit places like the Banaue rice terraces as these birds love to frolic near rice fields. They may also be seen near the coast nesting in mangroves.


  4. Flame-crowned flower-pecker photo by Francesco Veronesi (via Creative Commons)
    Flame-crowned flower-pecker

    Flame-crowned flowerpecker

    So named because of the orange/red colouring adorning their little navy blue heads, the fame-crowned flowerpeckers are a true sight to see. This bird, endemic to the Philippines, has a small black beak, a corn yellow stomach and a white neck.

    The second part of their name – flowerpecker – is also an appropriate name as these birds eat nectar from flowers. Want to catch a glimpse? Visit Mount Kitanglad in Mindanao and keep a look out for flowering shrubs.


Now that you know what to look for just remember to stay at a safe distance and don't touch the animals or their nests as doing so can cause trauma to them. Enjoy, observe and leave each place as you’ve found it so that the next adventurer can experience the same wonder.

Contact Uncharted Philippines for a custom birding adventure.

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