Facts you need to know about the Top 10 Birds in the City

How many of these species have you seen at your home, school, or work? Get to know them!

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1. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
   Legend has it that in the early 1900s, Europeans brought these birds to the Philippines to help them combat loneliness and homesickness. Today, it is the most common bird in the Philippines known as the maya.
2. Yellow-vented Bulbul
   Easily identified by its yellow bottom, this bird sports a mohawk comparable to that of the infamous hairstyle.
3. Pied Fantail
   In birding language, the term pied means black and white. Locally known as the Maria Capra, it can be very territorial even attacking domestic cats and dogs to protect its area. It can be readily identified not only but its black & white color, but its fan-like tail, giving it its name.
4. Chestnut Munia
   Once known as the National Bird, the Chestnut Munia reigned before its title was given to the Philippine Eagle in 1995. Oftentimes, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow is mistaken as the former National Bird when in fact it was the Chestnut Munia.
5. Olive-backed Sunbird
   Seen in pairs feeding in flowering trees, the olive-backed sunbird is one of the commonly-seen sunbirds in Metro Manila.
6. Zebra Dove
   This bird is locally called bato bato because of its ability to stay perfectly still like a stone.
7. Black-naped Oriole
   The Black-naped Oriole is probably the most persistent suitor you’ll ever see as it chases after the female in the sky during courtship. You’ll know when it comes calling by its distinct call, pee-yaaaaooww.
8. Pied Triller
   As the name suggests, the Pied Triller is also black & white, but lacks a fan-like tail unlike the Pied Fantail. It also resembles the Ashy Minivet, providing another challenge to bird watchers. To distinguish it, the Pied Triller has a shorter tail and a black crown while the Ashy Minivet has a white or greyish crown.
9. Collared Kingfisher
   The Collared kingfisher is by far the most common and distinct kingfisher in the Philippines. You’ll know it is nearby once you hear a loud kak-kak-kak-kak. It can be identified by its blue and white plumage, and its large kingfisher bill.
10. Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker
    Despite being the country’s smallest woodpecker, this bird sounds like a machine gun – albeit a small one – when it comes calling. It can be seen hopping high along the sides of trees.

References:

• Guide to the Birds of the Philippines, Kennedy et al. 2000
• Wild Bird Club of the PhilippinesBirding Adventure Philippines
• Rappler – http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/106946-tilapia-guppies-maya-ph
• The Straits Times – http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/in-pictures-10-most-common-birds-in-singapore