NEW BIRD SPECIES RECORDED IN BUENAVISTA PROTECTED LANDSCAPE

Two bird species have been recorded within Buenavista Protected Landscape (BPL) located in Mulanay, Quezon during the biodiversity monitoring conducted by the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) within the second semester of 2023.

Said species are the Blue-headed fantail (Rhipidura cyaniceps) and Yellow-wattled bulbul (Pycnonotus urostictus), both with conservation status of “Least Concern” based on the “Birds of the World” published by Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

As described by the ebird.org, blue-headed fantail is a medium-sized, long-tailed bird of primary and secondary forest from the lowlands to the mountains of Luzon. Its color is dull blue on the head, chest, back, and shoulder, with some paler blue streaking on the chest and crown. It has a buff belly and rufous lower back, rump, outer tail feathers, and wing, with dark central tail feathers and a dark edge to the wing. Its tail is often cocked and fanned while foraging. Its voice consists of a single sharp “pik!” notes given at intervals or sped up into a rapid series. The majority of the diet of fantails consists of small insects and invertebrates making them a natural pest control of an ecosystem.

Yellow-wattled bulbul, on the other hand, is a medium-sized bird of lowland and foothill forest. Its color is dark brown above with a grayish brown head and a slight crest, a warmer brown chest and sides, a white center of the belly, white under the base of the tail, and white tips to the undertail. It is somewhat similar to Zamboanga and Philippine Bulbuls, but it has a crest and an obvious yellow eye-ring. Its song consists of a short, rather tuneless whistling melody, often finishing higher. The said species eats mostly fruits and berries as its diet, but may also eat some insects. This bird is a natural agent for seed dispersal and pest control maintaining the ecological balance of the protected area.

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