The Howbbyist

The Philippines boasts 743 species of birds. 229 of which are only found in the country (endemic) which ranks 4th in the world for bird endemism.

Over 200 bird species migrate to the Philippines every year to spend the winter here in our tropical forests, marshes and wetlands.

From all shapes and sizes, a palette of colors and a myriad of patterns our avian biodiversity is just amazing!

I was incredibly lucky to have seen just a fraction of them (202 species to be exact) in a year and a half of my photography journey.

On the other hand, 124 birds species are threatened of extinction due to the loss of 90% of our forest for human settlement, farming and industrialization. They are also hunted for sport and indegenous practices and poached for the caged bird trade.

It is not too late. Let us learn to co-exist with these amazing fauna that also call our beautiful country "home".

A Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher basking in the sun after a quick dive. 😍

The Rufous-backed is a river kingfisher. These kingfishers live near ponds, rivers and streams to catch crustacens, fish, insects and lizards.

The Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher is found all over Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, it is found in the Palawan islands. It is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Please do not use this photo for commercial purposes without permission. You may also support the work we do by sharing this post or availing our framed canvas prints. 🥰 Thank you!

🐦: Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx rufidorsa)
📍: May 2024, Coron, Palawan
📷: Canon R7 + Canon RF 200-800mm
⚙️: Focal length: 800mm., Aperture: F9.0, Exposure: 1/320, ISO: 4000, Approx. Subject Distance: 5.71 meters

A Black-headed Bulbul untangles a vine to collect nesting material. 😍 This was one of the rare instances when I saw this bird out in the open. A very shy species, this bird is usually heard but rarely seen.

The Black-headed Bulbul can be found all over Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, it is only found in the Palawan islands. It is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Please do not use this photo for commercial purposes without permission. You may also support the work we do by sharing this post or availing our framed canvas prints. 🥰 Thank you!

🐦: Black-headed Bulbul (Microtarsus melanocephalos)
📍: May 2024, Coron, Palawan
📷: Canon R7 + Canon RF 200-800mm
⚙️: Focal length: 800mm., Aperture: F9.0, Exposure: 1/200, ISO: 2000, Approx. Subject Distance: 12.7 meters

A Ruddy Kingfisher basking in the sun as it waits patiently for the perfect time to strike on the fish below. 🤩

The Ruddy Kingfisher often prefers the shelter of thick vegetation surrounding a stream where it waits for passing fish or crustacean to feed on. In the absence of both, these kingfishers also feed on large insects and amphibians.

The Ruddy Kingfisher can be found in different parts of Asia such as Borneo, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Sunda Islands and the Philippines. It is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Please do not use this photo for commercial purposes without permission. You may also support the work we do by sharing this post or availing our framed canvas prints. 🥰 Thank you!

🐦: Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda)
📍: May 2024, Coron, Palawan
📷: Canon R7 + Canon RF 200-800mm
⚙️: Focal length: 707mm., Aperture: F10.0, Exposure: 1/250, ISO: 6400, Approx. Subject Distance: 9.11 meters

A Philippine Collared Dove or Bato bato de collar, was busy foraging on the road. I didn't see it at first until around 5 meters away. I hit the brakes and went to the side of the road as we both got startled of each others presence. 😅 It flew away and to my surprise landed on the barrier right by my car window! I took a few photos before it finally decided to fly further into the forest. 🥰

Little is known about the Philippine Collared Dove. They have been introduced in Guam and Mariana Islands, where it is known as the Island Collared Dove. Philippine Collared Doves are quite similar in appearance to Red Collared Doves and Spotted Doves. The best way to determine them apart is the presence of the "fish scale-like" collar on the neck of the Philippine Collared Dove, compared to the solid black collar of the Red Collared Dove and the spotted collar of the Spotted Dove. Unlike the other two, the Philippine Collared Dove is becoming rarer to observe in the wild.

They are currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and Endanged by the Philippine Red List of threatened fauna due to habitat loss and competition from other doves also native in the area such as the Spotted Dove and Red Collared Dove. Although with little information about its current population, it is possible this species is already closer to extinction.

Please do not use this photo for commercial purposes without permission. You may also support the work we do by sharing this post or availing our framed canvas prints. 🥰 Thank you!

🐦: Philippine Collared Dove (Streptopelia dusumieri)
📍: April 2024, Ternate, Cavite
📷: Canon R7 + Canon RF 200-800mm
⚙️: Focal length: 80mm., Aperture: F9.0, Exposure: 1/1000, ISO: 6400, Approx. Subject Distance: 9.11 meters