Philippine Birds of Prey

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Philippine honey-buzzard LEAST CONCERN Pernis steerei Description: They have long, broad buteonine wings and tails. The legs are short, but stout; with stout toes and talons. The lores are densely feath- ered with short imbricated feathers, an adaptation to ward off wasps and bees whose larvae form an important part of their diet. The feathers of the entire head are somewhat stiffened; with or with- out a projecting crest on nape. The tail is bold- ly barred. Their general colour is highly variable with dark phases in some forms. The young are usually more heavily streaked than are the adults. Habits: ranges primarily in lowland forest and forest edges, tends to perch on dense parts of tree crowns Range: Samar, Negros, Siargao, Mindanao, Basi- lan, Leyte, Tablas, Bohol, Tawitawi, Dinagat, and Masbate Diet: wasp and termite adults and larvae, lizards, nestling birds, and perhaps frogs Population: unknown Threats: deforestation through timber harvesting Conservation Action: unknown 52

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Falconidae Family A family of diurnal birds of prey now usually restricted to the long- winged swift-flying falcons and the caracaras but formerly including most hawks, eagles, buzzards, Old World vultures, and related forms. 55

Philippine falconet LEAST CONCERN Microhierax erythrogenys Description: The upperparts, flanks and thighs are a glossy blue-black, the underparts white and the beak and feet black Habits: found singly or in small groups in open forests and edges Range: Bohol, Calicoan, Catanduanes, Cebu, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Samar, and Panay Diet: insects and small vertebrates Population: 670-6700 Threats: habitat destruction Conservation Actions: unknown 56

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Strigidae Family There are around 190 species of owl in this family. They are found in all parts of the world, except Antarctica. They are found in a variety of habitats. Owls in this family have sharp, hooked bills; large, forward-facing eyes; big heads; round faces; flexible necks; long bodies; sharp talons; and soft, thick feathers. 59

Philippine eagle owl VULNERABLE Bubo philippensis Description: large and bulky with floppy, rath- er inconspicuous ear tufts and huge yellow eyes. Races differ in size and color; philippensis is small- er with rufous underparts while mindanensis is larger with dark brown underparts Habits: lives in forests and forest edges in the low- lands, often near rivers and lakes in coconut plan- tations with patches of second growth Range: Catanduanes, Luzon, Bohol, Samar, Min- danao, and Leyte. Diet: beetles and crickets Population: 2500-9999 Threats: The species are also at risk of being hunt- ed, persecuted for superstitious beliefs, and or possibly accidental poisoning Conservation Action: Recorded from several pro- tected areas, including the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Quezon and Mt Makiling national parks on Luzon, Mt Kitanglad and Mt Apo natu- ral parks on Mindanao and Rajah Sikatuna Na- tional Park in Bohol. 60

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Philippine Scops Owl Within the Philippine archipelago, there ippines while one is near endemic, the are nine species of Scops owls. Of these Mantanani Scops Owl which will not be owl species, eight are endemic to the Phil- included below. 63

Giant scops owl VULNERABLE Otus gurneyi Description: facial disc rufous, buff white eye stripe from lores to inside web of ear tuft form- ing a “V” from front Habits: lives in the forests and forest edges usu- ally foraging high; has also been found in small clumps of trees in grasslands, far away from for- ests. Range: Southern Philippines - Mindanao, Siar- gao and Dinagat. Also found recently in Samar Diet: small mammals and birds, as well as large insects Population: 2500-9999 Threats: mining, fire pressure, logging, and pulp plantations Conservation Action: It has been identified in several IBAs such as Siargao Island, Mt Kam- binilio and Mt Redondo, Mt Hilong-hilong, Mt Diwata Range, Mt Apo, Mt Samar Island Natu- ral Park, Lake Lanao and many more. 64

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Luzon lowland scops owl LEAST CONCERN Otus meglotis Description: They have large erect ears, as their name “megalotis” indicates. Their big forward-facing eyes are dark with an orange-red rim. Their crown, ear tufts and feathers are dark brown, with dark streaks above. The facial disk has a dark rim. The forehead has a whitish pale color. Habits: They nest in tree holes in lowland forests, and can also be found in the pine forests Range: Luzon Diet: insects and small mammals Population: unknown Threats: habitat destruction and persecution Conservation Action: unknown 68

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Palawan scops owl NEAR THREATENED Otus fuliginosus Description: collared owl with ear tufts, facial disc ru- fous, forehead blackish brown; line above eye continu- ing to inner edge of ear tufts whitish Habits: found in lowland forests. Stays in dense under- story, keeping low to the ground Range: Palawan and the adjacent islands of Alabagin and Balabac, with an unconfirmed report from Calauit Diet: insects Population: 10000-19999 (poor data, updated 2008) Threats: deforestation driven by logging and agricul- tural expansion and agro-industry farming Conservation Action: several IBAs identified such as Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Natural Park, Vic- toria and Anepahan Ranges, Mt Matalingahan, and Balabac Island 70

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Mindanao Highland scops owl NEAR THREATENED Otus mirus Description: tiny, with ear tufts, more rufous coloration, yellow eye color with orange cast and unfeathered legs Habits: Found in mid-mountain and montane forests Range: Mindanao (Mts Apo, Hilong-Hilong, and Kitangkad) Diet: insects Population: unknown Threats: unknown Conservation Action: several IBAs identified such as Mt Hilong-hilong, Mt Kitanglad, Mt Apo, and Mt Busa-Kiamba 72

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Visayan scops owl VULNERABLE Otus nigrorum Also known as “Bukao” and Visayan scops owl Description: lightest with rufous crown and face Habits: prefers forests and forest edges in the lowlands Range: Negros and Panay Diet: insects Population: 1000-2499 (update 2014) Threats: on-going habitat loss and degradation by agro-industry farming Conservation Action: unknown 74

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Luzon Highland scops owl NEAR THREATENED Otus longicornis The Luzon scops-owl is one of the smallest scops owls in the Philippines. It is also known as “Botbot Kuwaw” Description: mottled tan eye stripe from forehead through lores to inside web of ear tuft forming a “V” from front; orange red eyes Habits: found in sub-montane and montane mossy for- est, mixed pine and rain forests; perches in understory Range: Catanduanes, Luzon, and Marinduque Diet: insects Population: unknown Threats: extensive loss of lowland forests Conservation Action: several IBAs identified such as Kalbario-Patapat National Park, Mount Pulag Nation- al Park, Bataan Natural Park and Subic Bay Forest Re- serve, Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape and more. 76

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Mindoro scops owl NEAR THREATENED Otus mindorensis Description: tiny, with ear tufts mottled dark reddish brown and dark brown above, lighter below. Broad, poorly defined collar Habits: restricted to montane forests Range: Mindoro Diet: insects Population: 10000-19999 (updated 2008) Threats: ongoing clearance of forest habitats Conservation Action: several IBAs identified such as Mount Halcon, Iglit-Baco Mountains, and Mount Hi- nunduang 78

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Mindanao lowland scops owl LEAST CONCERN Otus everetti The Mindanao scops-owl is also known as Everett’s scops owl Description: darker and smaller than Luzon and Visayas scops-owl; blackish brown crown and face; has burnt orange eyes and prominent ear tufts Habits: prefers mid-montane and mossy forests; tends to sit high up in dense canopies of trees and bamboo Range: Bohol, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Mindanao and Basilan Diet: feeds mostly on insects Population: unknown Threats: deforestation Conservation Action: unknown 80

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Philippine Hawk Owl Also known as Boobook, the Philippine plumage, and the amount of white on the Hawk Owl comprises a number of forms scapulars and upper wing coverts. The spread throughout the main Philippine whole Philippine Hawk-Owl complex is islands (excluding Palawan). Some are currently under review. This widespread strongly streaked below, others also have Philippine endemic forest-dwelling noc- some or much barring on the head and/ turnal species is generally regarded as or underparts; they also differ in size, tail length, the tone of brown of the comprising seven or eight spe- cies . 83

Luzon Boobook LEAST CONCERN Ninox philippensis Description: brown and white mottled bird and males and females look much alike Habits: noticeable by its loud, repetitious call after dark in primary and secondary forests including remnant patches Range: Biliran, Buad, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Po- lillo, Masbate, Ticao, Mindoro Diet: insects and small rodents Population: unknown Threats: unknown Conservation Action: unknown 84

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Romblon Boobook ENDANGERED Ninox spilonotus Description: overall color of “fulvous brown” above with light rufous speckling from head to mantle and wing-coverts; tail nearly black with 9 clearly discerni- ble pale bands and 10 dark ones Habits: found in the forested areas Range: Cebu, Tablas and Sibuyan Diet: insects and small rodents Population: 250-999 (updated 2017) Threats: deforestation, mining, farming Conservation Action : unknown 86

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Chocolate Boobook NEAR THREATENED Ninox randi Description: dark brown, medium sized hawk-like owl with a round head and no ear-tufts. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Brown Hawk Owl Ni- nox scutulata. Habits: Can be found in forested and wooded habitats, including some modified areas Range: islands of Basilan, Cebu, Luzon, Marinduque, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros and Siquijor Diet: insects Population: unknown Threats: deforestation Conservation Action: This species presumably occurs in a number of protected areas. 88

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Mindanao Boobook NEAR THREATENED Ninox spilocephala Description: small, short tail, compact and sleek plum- age, very small head, indistinct white patch between eye and supercilla (eyebrow), vaguely speckled ears, fil- amentous ear extensions very long and profuse, more so than any other taxon Habits: inhabits primary and tall secondary forest, from the lowlands Range: Basilan, Mindanao, Siargao and Dinagat Diet: insects and small rodents Population: unknown Threats: clearance for agriculture and grazing, gold mining, logging, and urbanization Conservation Action: unknown 90

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Mindoro Boobook VULNERABLE Ninox mindorensis One of the smallest Philippine hawk-owl complexes. Description: top of the head, and nape barred with buff; under parts are tawny buff, transversely barred with brown; yellow iris color, mustard inner, lemon colored outer; small prominent white supercilla (eyebrow); bill is pale dull yellow, sides greener; tall barring is denser Habits: found in tall primary and secondary forests of Mindoro Range: Mindoro Diet: insects and small rodents Population: 2500-9999 (updated 2014) Threats: deforestation, mining Conservation Action: unknown 92

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Sulu Boobook VULNERABLE Ninox reyi Also called “Lukluk” (Tawi-tawi) and Sulu Boobook Description: very pronounced even barring on head and breast; prominently barred crown; very small white eyebrows; shorter, less apparent ear covert exten- sions; bright white, well-marked throat patch; mustard yellow iris, with pale greenish yellow outer ring; dull greenish yellow bill; dark claws Habits: found in forest edges, mangroves and large trees in the vicinity of villages Range: Sulu Diet: insects and small rodents Population: 1000-2499 Threats: habitat loss, degradation, farming Conservation Action: unknown 94

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Camiguin Boobook ENDANGERED Ninox leventisi Also called Camiguin boobook or its native name, kugkug. Description: first known owl with grey or whitish eyes; large, with long deep bill; ear coverts have short fila- mentous extensions visible only at close range; very distinct regularly buffed crown; large white throat patch with a few narrow dark streaks extends to top of breast Habits: lives in the small island of Camiguin Sur Range: Camiguin Diet: insects and small rodents Population: 250-999 (2014) Threats: habitat loss due to housing, mining Conservation Action: identified IBA: Camiguin Island 96

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Cebu Boobook ENDANGERED Ninox rumseyi Also known as “Bukao” / “Bukaw” Description: medium to large, with long tarsi, small bill, prominently round-headed, mostly barred above, ear coverts have short filamentous extensions, promi- nent shirt white supercilla (eyebrows) Habits: appears to occupy forest of various types, with no obvious preference for interior or edge, gully or ridge, patch size or canopy height, although it was only occasionally recorded in areas of pure plantation Range: Cebu Diet: rats, small birds (sunbirds, flowerpeckers, tit- mice and flycatchers), colubrid snakes, agamid lizards, skinks, geckos, frogs, toads, cicadas, mantises, moths, stick insects and crickets Population: 250-999 (updated 2011) Threats: expansion of agriculture and fuelwood gather- ing is creating increasing pressure on the last remain- ing forests on Cebu Conservation Action: unknown 98

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