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The Philippines

The books are listed by publication date with the most recent at the top.

Asia

- Asia

The 100 Best Bird Watching Sites in Southeast Asia

Editor: Yong Ding Li, Low Bing Wen

2016

"Southeast Asia has a vast diversity of birdlife, comprising roughly one fifth of the world's 10,000 living species, and of which over 850 are endemic, making the region a richly rewarding destination for birdwatchers.This fully illustrated guide describes the 100 best sites for viewing both common and rare species. Divided into the four biodiversity hotspots of Indo-Burma; Sundaland; Philippines and Wallacea, the book covers sites in Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines and Timor Leste.Alongside a map of each area, detailed descriptions of each site cover the type of terrain and specific spots at which certain species are likely to be encountered. Other sections cover access and possible accommodation, as well as important indicators to conservation issues.A fact file for each site lists the nearest town; the type of habitat; key lowland, montane and winter species to be seen as well as other wildlife specialities, and the best time to visit. The book is edited by Yang Ding Li and Low Bing Wen who have brought together a team of contributors, each with in-depth experience of the sites presented."

A Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of the Philippines

Maia Tañedo, Robert Hutchinson, Adrian Constantino, Trinket Constantino

2015

"This easy-to-use identification guide to the 280 bird species most commonly seen in the Philippines is perfect for resident and visitor alike.High quality photographs from some of the Philippines' top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions which include nomenclature, length, plumage, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers geography, climate, habitat types, biogeography, the main sites for viewing the listed species and tips for identifying birds in the field. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of the Philippines encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific names as well as vernacular names, and its global status."

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia: Including the Philippines and Borneo

Morten Strange

2014

Reprint of 2003 edition

"This guide covers 668 species found in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Borneo. Each species is illustrated with a photograph and distribution map, making this a quick-reference guide in a pocketable format."

A Photographic Guide to Birds of the Philippines

Tim Fisher and Nigel Hicks

3rd edition

2010

"This pocket-sized, easy-to-use bird identification guide - fully revised and complete with new species listings - is a must for any birdwatcher visiting the Philippines. From the central plains of Luzon to the forests of Mindanao and the marshes of Candaba, this book will show you where to go and which birds to look for. With easy-to-read thumbnail colour tabs referencing each family of bird, authoritative and informative text and stunning full-colour photograph of each species, this is an essential companion for visiting birdwatchers. This new edition is fully updated with all the latest names and recently recognised species. A total of 214 species is illustrated, including such stunning endemics as Philippine Eagle and Steere's Pitta."

Birdwatching in the Philippines: Volume 2

Carlos M. Libosada and Ivan Sarenas

2009

"As with the first volume, this second volume is a celebration of the country's diverse and unique bird assemblages. Its special focus is avian endemism in the Philippines and features some 90% of the endemics whose photos have never been published before. The 14 birding sites covered in this book are: Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Mt. Polis Protected Landscape, Ifugao and Mountain Province; Hamut Camp, Mt. Dos Cuernos, Cagayan Province; Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, Los Banos, Laguna; Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro; Lake Danao, Taytay, Palawan; Bicol Estuary, Municipalities of Cabusao and Magarao, Camarines Sur; Mt. Kanlaon National Park, Negros Occidental; Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Bilar, Bohol; Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, Negros Oriental; Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park, Basey, Samar; Pasonanca Natural Park, Zamboanga City; Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, Bukidnon; Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Agusan del Sur."

Birdwatching in the Philippines: Volume 1

Carlos M. Libosada

2008

"This book is the first volume of a series of guidebooks on birdwatching in the Philippines. It covers representative areas in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. It also includes different range of habitats from coastal mudflats to forest areas and man-made parks. The sites featured are: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan; Rasa Island, Palawan; Hundred Islands National Park, Pangasinan; Bangrin Marine Protected Area, Pangasinan; Subic Bay, Zambales; Balanga Wetlands, Bataan; Candaba Marsh, Pampanga; Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat & Ecotourism Area, Metro Manila; Mt. Palay-Palay National Park, Cavite; Villa Escudero, Quezon; Alcoy Forest, Cebu; Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Cebu; Philippine Eagle Center, Davao."

A Photographic Guide to Birds of the Philippines

Tim Fisher and Nigel Hicks

2nd edition

2006

"This pocket-sized, easy-to-use bird identification guide - fully revised and complete with new species listings - is a must for any birdwatcher visiting the Philippines. From the central plains of Luzon to the marshlands of Candaba, with this book you will know exactly where to go and which birds to look for. With easy-to-read thumbnail colour tabs referencing each family of bird, authoritative and informative text and stunning full-colour photograph of each specimen, this is an essential companion for visiting birdwatchers."

Birds of Southeast Asia

Craig Robson

Princeton University Press

2005

"This concise, updated edition of the award-winning A Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia (Princeton, 2000) is the most comprehensive, compact guide to this magnificent bird-rich region. It is a complete field and reference guide to the birds of Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It also covers a wide range of species found in the Indian subcontinent, China, Taiwan, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, and the Philippines."

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia: Including the Philippines and Borneo

Morten Strange

2003

"This is the very first comprehensive photographic guide to the birds of mainland Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Borneo, including the birds of Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Indochina, South China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Covering 668 species, the volume contains a distribution map for each species in addition to more than 700 brilliant color photographs, many appearing here for the first time. The photographs are complemented by a concise text providing all the information needed to accurately identify species in one of the world's richest avifauna regions. Given the notorious difficulty of photographing rainforest birds, this book represents a major achievement. It is an ideal volume for travelers to the region as well as for all bird lovers."

The World Owl Trust in the Philippines

Tony Warburton

2003

The story of the first international owl conservation programme, the Philippine Owl Conservation Project set up by the World Owl Trust.

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia: Including the Philippines and Borneo

Morton Strange

2003

"This guide covers almost 700 species found in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Borneo. Each species is illustrated with a photograph and distribution map, making this a quick-reference guide in a pocketable format. Introductory sections include general information, such as the biogeography of the region covered."

A Guide To The Birds of South-East Asia: Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia

Craig Robson

2002

"Famous for its vast diversity of birdlife, Southeast Asia is an increasingly popular destination for birders and ecotourists. Travelers, however, have long been without an up-to-date, comprehensive bird guide to this fascinating region. "A Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia" fills this need, illustrating and describing all 1,250 species found in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The book also covers a wide range of species found in the Indian subcontinent, China, Taiwan, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, and the Philippines. The introduction presents an overview of the entire region, encompassing information on climate, habitats, and conservation, as well as birdwatching hints and explanations on how to use the book most effectively. One hundred and four color plates, painted by a group of leading artists, depict all species and the majority of distinctive subspecies of the region in every major plumage variation, including variations by age and sex. The text provides unrivaled detail on identification (including comparisons of similar species) and covers voice, habitat, behavior, range, status, and breeding - all vital aids for identification in the field."

A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines

Robert S. Kennedy, Pedro C. Gonzales, Edward C. Dickinson, Hector C. Miranda, Jr. & Timothy H. Fisher

2000

"This guide covers all 572 species of birds known to occur within the 7100 islands that make up the Philippines. The Philippine avifauna includes some 170 endemics - species that are not found anywhere else in the world - and is thus of interest to avid birders around the world. Many of these species are also endangered, due to the high levels of habitat destruction in the Philippine forest, and this book is also urgently needed by conservation workers in the region. The guide is illustrated by 72 specially painted colour plates that show all but the three most recently described species. Its text gives detailed information about the plumage, voice, range, distribution, status, habitat, life history and behaviour of the birds and is accompanied by distribution maps for all the species described."

A Photographic Guide to Birds of the Philippines

Tim Fisher and Nigel Hicks

1st edition

2000

"This text is a compact, easy-to-use bird identification guide, suitable for any birdwatcher visiting the Philippines. The book features descriptions of 216 species, thumbnail silhouettes for ease of use, up-to-date tips and information on bird biology and behaviour."

Threatened Birds of the Philippines

The Haribon Foundation/Birdlife International Red Data Book

Nigel J. Collar, Neil Aldrin D. Mallari and Blas R. Tabaranza

1999

Species accounts of threatened birds in the Phillipines with key sites where these occur identified.

Vanishing Treasures of the Philippine Rainforest

Lawrence R. Heaney and Jacinto C. Regalado

1998

"The Philippine rain forest is home to one of the greatest concentrations of unique species of terrestrial vertebrates of any place on earth - more than 510 unique species - and the Philippines may have the world' s most seriously threatened flora and fauna. The text relates how this life came to exist in the islands and explains why the imminent destruction of the forest threatens also the economic and social well-being of the Philippine nation. It identifies the steps needed to be taken to protect both their natural heritage and their country's future."

Birds of South-East Asia: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia

Morten Strange

1998

"South-East Asia offers an array of spectacular and unusual birds. This illustrated work displays over 250 birds to be found in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Phillipines. It offers advice on how to locate and identify them in the field; facts on behaviour, feeding, breeding and migrating habits; and information on threatened or endangered species in each country."

A Birders Guide to the Philippines

Dave Sargeant

Site guides and a checklist with distribution for each island.

The Birds of the Philippines: An Annotated Checklist

E. C. Dickinson, R. S. Kennedy and K. C. Parkes

1991

"The largest BOU checklist details the diverse avifauna of this important zoogeographical island group midway between between the Oriental mainland and Australasia and is the first review of the regions avifanua since 1910."

Birds of the Philippines

Pedro C. Gonzales & Colin P. Rees

1988

Covers just over 100 of the commoner birds.

Philippine Birds

John DuPont

Monograph Series No. 2

Delaware Museum of Natural History

1976

Birds of the Philippines

Jean Delacour and Ernst Mayr

1946

Brief text for about 450 species with line drawings for some of those.

Birds of the Philippine Islands

With Notes On The Mammal Fauna

The Hon. Masauji Hachisuka

H.F. & G. Witherby

1931-1935

Originally published in four parts in 1931, 1932, 1934 and 1935. These parts were bound in paper covers and many copies have subsequently been rebound, sometimes in two volumes. The four parts combined are approximately 900 pages with 101 plates of which 61 are colour. Also includes 2 fold-out maps in part one and many line drawings throughout.

Parts I & II: Galliformes to Pelecaniformes
Parts III & IV: Accipitriformes to Passeriformes

On the Birds of the Philippine Islands, Part IX: The Islands of Samar and Leite

W. R. Ogilvie Grant and John Whitehead

Ibis

1897

Opening lines:

"About the middle of May, 1806, Mr. John Whitehead once more left Manila for the island of Samar, to make another collection in place of the one which had been lost off Singapore. There is no really high ground in Samar, and nowhere do the hills attain a greater altitude than about 1500 feet above sea-level. The greater part of the island is covered with a dense and lofty forest, many of the trees being over 240 feet high. Under these circumstances collecting was often a matter of difficulty, for birds, especially large ones, some 80 yards overhead are hardly to be brought down with a charge of shot from any ordinary gun. The climate is hot and damp, and, as might be expected, the rainfall unusually heavy, while the mud, for which the island is almost proverbial, renders locomotion most disagreeable. With very few exceptions, the present collection from Samar contains all the more important birds previously met with, hut a little Owl (Scops sp.), the lovely Blue Flycatcher (Cyanomyias helence), arid the Flower-pecker (Prionochilus olivnceus) were not again seen."

On the Birds of the Philippine Islands, Part VIII: The Highlands of Negros

W. R. Ogilvie Grant and John Whitehead

Ibis

1896

Opening lines:

"On the 28th of February Mr. Whitehead once more left Manila en route for the island of Negros, which lies in the centre of the Philippine group, and remained there till thc end of April. Concerning this expedition he writes as follows 'After much trouble, sun-broiling, starvation, want of baths, &c., I commenced collecting at the foot of the active volcano Canloon, in Central Negros.' This mountain has an elevation of about 7000 feet. He then goes on to give a list of the principal birds obtained, adding some interesting notes and observations. He gradually worked his way up the mountain to an elevation of over 6000 feet, where he remained camped for three weeks. The Ornis was, however, so poor that he did not think it worth while to stay longer. Perhaps the most interesting species met with at this high elevation was a new Blackbird (Turdus nigrorum) with a brownish slate-grey breast and dark brown back, quite distinct from anything previously known. This bird was resident, and both young and eggs were obtained."

On the Birds of the Philippine Islands, Part VII: The Highlands of Mindoro

W. R. Ogilvie Grant and John Whitehead

Volume 38, Issue 4, pages 457-477

Ibis

1896

Opening lines:

"A considerable time has now elapsed since the readers of ‘The Ibis' have heard anything of Mr. Whitehead's doings in the Philippine Islands. I need hardly say that this indefatigable collector has not been idle during the last year, but through a lamentable accident the entire results of four months' work in the island of Samar have apparently been lost, owing to the destruction of the S.S. Weiland by fire off Singapore."

On the Birds of the Philippine Islands, Part VI: The Vicinity of Cape Ertgafio, N.E. Luzon, Manila Bay, and Fuga Island, Babuyan Group

W. R. Ogilvie Grant and John Whitehead

Volume 38, Issue 1, pages 101-128

Ibis

1896

Opening lines:

"On the 6th April, 1895, our indefatigable friend, Mr. Whitehead, started off once more for the north of Luzon, his destination this time being Cape Engafio, the extreme northeast point of the Island. From thence he hoped to reach the ranges of mountains that run parallel with the east coast, but the impossibility of obtaining either Negrito porters or boats proved a serious obstacle. Having arrived safely at Aparri, where he was obliged to remain for some days, as it was semana santa (holy week), he managed to charter a large coasting-boat to take him on to Cape Engafio. The start was made on a Monday night, but a contrary wind drove the boat in a northerly direction far out of its course, and for a couple of days she was obliged to seek shelter under Fuga Island, one of the Babuyan group. Here Mr. Whitehead landed, and, though the time at his disposal was very limited, several interesting birds were collected, the most important being examples of a new species of Bulbul (Hypsipetes fugensis), which finds its nearest ally in the Loo Choo Islands."

On the Birds of the Philippine Islands, Part V: The Highlands of the Province of Lepanto, North Luzon

W. R. Ogilvie Grant and John Whitehead

Volume 37, Issue 4, pages 433-472

Ibis

1895

Opening lines:

"The second collection formed by Mr. Whitehead in the Benguet district, teeming as it was with novelties and rare birds, is, as a whole, far surpassed in interest by the great collection now sent home from the Province of Lepanto. This lies immediately to the north of the scene of his former labours, and includes what is believed to be the highest part of Luzon, Mount Data attaining an elevation of over 8000 feet. Unfortunately Mr. Whitehead has furnished us with only a somewhat vague account of his various movements, but I believe I am correct in stating that the whole of the present collection, or very nearly all of it, was made in the Lepanto district."

On the Birds of the Philippine Islands, Part IV: The Province of Albay, South-east Luzon, and the adjacent Island of Catanduanes

W. R. Ogilvie Grant and John Whitehead

Ibis

1895

Opening lines:

"Since the January number of 'The Ibis' appeared another large collection of birds has arrived from that indefatigable collector Mr. J. Whitehead, including about two hundred bird-skins, of which three were perfectly new to science. During the first month of this expedition Mr. Whitehead collected near some mountains in the neighbourhood of Tobacco, in the province of Albay, which is situated in the extreme southeast of Luzon. There, however, he obtained very few specimens, for, being a great hemp growing district, most of the forests had been cleared and bird life was extremely scarce, but it was here that he obtained all his specimens of the splendid green Fruit-Pigeon (Carpophaga poliocephala) now recorded for the first time from Luzon. Thence he shifted his camp to the foot of the Mayon volcano, remaining there for some three weeks; but there again birds were far from common, tbough it was on this collecting-ground that the yellow-green Silver-eye (Zosterops luzonica) was obtained."

On the Birds of the Philippine Islands, Part III: The Mountains of the Province of Isabella, in the extreme North-east of Luzon

W. R. Ogilvie Grant and John Whitehead

Volume 37, Issue 1, pages 106-117

Ibis

1895

Opening lines:

"Mr. Whitehead's third collection, formed in the Province of Isabella, arrived in London on the 8th of October, and though the number of birds collected was comparatively small somewhat less than forty - several remarkably interesting forms were included, two being new to science. Perhaps the most interesting novelty is a second species of my new Timaliine genus Zosterornis (Ibis, 1894, p. 510). This species which I have named Z. striatus on account of its striped underparts, though displaying all the generic differences which mark Z. whiteheadi (Ibis, 1894, plate xv. fig. l), at the first glance reminds one strongly of the members of the allied genus Mirornis (especially M. montana, Sharpe, from Kina Balu) in its general coloration and style of markings, but this resemblance is only superficial. The other new bird is an Oriole named Oriolus isabellae, of which unfortunately only the female was obtained; but, as may be seen from the full description given below, it can readily be distinguished from the only allied form 0. albiloris, the type of which was obtained during Mr. Whitehead's second expedition, and described in the volume of 'The Ibis' for 1894 (p. 504)."

On the Birds of the Philippine Islands: Part II

W.R. Ogilvie Grant

Field notes: John Whitehead

Ibis: Volume 36, Issue 4, pages 501-522

1894

Opening lines:

"Mr. Whitehead's second collection from the Philippines arrived a few weeks ago (on the 15th of June), and is rich in new species and in interesting forms of all kinds of bird-life. Starting from Manila on the 1st of January, Mr. Whitehead did not return till the 3rd of April, and the results of this second trip have surpassed my most sanguine expectations. There are examples of no less than 19 very distinct new species, one of which (Zosterornis whiteheadi) I have been obliged to refer to a new genus, most nearly allied to the Timaliine forms Cyanodernia and Mixornis. But undoubtedly the most interesting of Mr. Whitehead's discoveries is a small resident Crossbill (Loxia luzoniensis), most nearly allied to the little Himalayan form (L.himalayma)."

On the Birds of the Philippine Islands, Part I: Mount Arajat, Central Luzon

W. R. Ogilvie Grant and John Whitehead

Ibis

1894

Opening lines:

"Most of the readers of The Ibis, are no doubt already aware that Mr. John Whitehead is once more busily engaged in the collecting-field, determined, if possible, to eclipse his former splendid achievements on Mount Kina Balu. This time the scene of his labours is the island of Luzon, one of the Philippines, of which the greater part, especially the mountains to the north, has never been visited by a naturalist. The only collections that have been made in this island have been obtained in the immediate neighbourhood of Manila, all the highlands to the north being unexplored. For many years it has been one of my moat earnest desires to induce some really first-rate naturalist to thoroughly explore Luzon and some of the larger unknown islands of the group, and it was with unbounded satisfaction that I succeeded in securing Mr. Whitehead's co-operation."

Ornithological Results of an Expedition to the Philippine Islands in 1887 and 1888

J.B. Steere

Ibis: Volume 33, Issue 3, pages 301-316

1891

Opening lines:

"The Steere Expedition to the Philippines went out from the University of Michigan in the year 1887, and spent about twelve months in the islands. The object of the expedition was to make general zoological collections, and at the same time to examine as many distinct localities as possible, so that the distribution of species in the various islands might be studied. Fifteen of the larger islands, situated in all parts of the group, were visited, and from two to six weeks spent upon each. This amount of time, with a party of five collectors from the United States, and such native help as could be obtained, sufficed to make very large, though by no means exhaustive, collections of vertebrates, and important collections in several groups of invertebrates."

On Birds Recently Observed Or Obtained In The Island Of Negros, Philippines

Arthur Viscount Walden and Edgar Leopold Layard

Ibis: Volume 14, Issue 2, pages 93-107

1872

Opening lines:

"The Philippine Islands supplied the materials for the earliest memoir on exotic birds that has come down to us, written by the Moravian Jesuit, Camel, in 1703 (Phil. Trans. vol. xxiii.). From examples collected in the Philippine archipelago by Poivre and by Sonnerat, descriptions of many of the oldest species in our books were taken. Still, even at the present time, our knowledge of Philippine ornithology continues to be of the most elementary character, only 193 species being noted (v. Martens, J. fur 0. 1866) as known to inhabit the large and diversified area contained within the limits of the archipelago - an area which occupies an estimated surface of 110,000 square miles of dry land."