With more than 7,100 islands to explore, and more than 600 species of birds on record (and new ones being discovered as we speak), over 200 of which are found nowhere else in the world- the Philippine archipelago is indeed a birdwatcher's dream come true! Come visit the Philippines and join our journey of discovery.

Experience and enjoy the interesting sights, culture and unsurpassed hospitality of the Filipinos as you visit the birdwatching destinations- from wetlands teeming with migratory water birds, to the forest havens of the majestic Philippine Eagle and the elusive Cebu Flowerpecker.

While finding endemic birds pose quite a challenge, seeing a rare bird that is unique to the country is worth the journey. Having more people appreciating these natural treasures that the Philippines can offer, leads to better protection and management of the birds and their habitats. In this sense, birding might be the single most important activity that will create a movement to begin the process of healing and rebuilding our nation's deteriorating watersheds, forests, rivers, wetlands- the country's vital life support systems.

Birdwatching Sites

		PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK
		RASA ISLAND
		HUNDRED ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
		BANGRIN MARINE PROTECTED AREA, BANI
		SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE
		BALANGA CITY
		CANDABA MARSH
		LAS PIÑAS-PARAÑAQUE CRITICAL HABITAT AND ECOTOURISM ZONE
		MT. PALAY-PALAY NATIONAL PARK
		VILLA ESCUDERO
		ALCOY FOREST
		OLANGO ISLAND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
		PHILIPPINE EAGLE CENTER

Tour Packages

		CANDABA / BATAAN / SUBIC / PANGASINAN PROGRAM
		URBAN BIRDING & ENVIRONS PROGRAM
		MINDANAO PROGRAM
		PALAWAN PROGRAM

PUERTO PRINCESA SUBTERRANEAN RIVER NATIONAL PARK
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Declared as a national park in 1971, the site has maintained its natural forest cover that extends from mid-level mountains to the coastlines. This ideal condition has allowed wildlife, including birds, to live unharmed from any large-scale human disturbance.

For birdwatching, the park is a major site where one can easily encounter endemic species such as the Palawan Peacock Pheasant and the Palawan Hornbill. These species are restricted in the island of Palawan.

Recorded Birds in the Park
Ashy-headed Babbler, Black-headed Bulbul, Blue Paradise-Flycatcher, Blue-headed Raquet-tail, Blue-naped Parrot, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Common Flameback, Dark-throated Oriole, Eastern Reef-Egret, Falcated Ground-Babbler, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Green Imperial-Pigeon, Hair-crested Drongo, Hill Myna, Hooded Pitta, Lovely Sunbird, Oriental Dwarf-Kingfisher, Palawan Blue Flycatcher, Palawan Flowerpecker, Palawan Flycatcher, Palawan Hornbill, Palawan Peacock-Pheasant, Palawan Scops-Owl, Palawan Tit, Red-bellied Pitta, Ruddy Kingfisher, Spotted Wood-Owl, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Striped Tit-Babbler, Tabon Scrubfowl,
Thick-billed Green-Pigeon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, White-vented Shama.

Other Activities in the Area
Swimming, snorkeling, mangrove tour, sightseeing of karst formations, exploring the subterranean river, trekking, wildlife discovery to include other interesting or endemic species such as the Palawan Bushy-tailed Squirrel and Asian small-clawed Otter.

RASA ISLAND
Narra, Palawan

Rasa Island is a story of success and continuing struggle in bird conservation. In 1998, the local government of Narra and the Katala Foundation embarked on a significant program designed to help save the remaining cockatoos in the area. From a low of 20 individuals, the program resulted in the rebound of the identified roosting individuals to about 200. The project also enabled the protection of the entire Rasa Island from further degradation and conservation of other bird species that count, among others, the Mantanani Scops Owl and the Blue-headed Raquet-tail.

Recorded Birds in Rasa Island
Asian Glossy Starling, Black-headed Bulbul, Blue Paradise-Flycatcher, Blue-headed Racquet-tail, Chinese Egret, Common Koel, Common Sandpiper, Copper-throated Sunbird, Crested Goshawk, Dollarbird, Eastern Reef-Egret, Great Crested Tern, Great-billed Heron, Green Imperial-Pigeon, Grey Imperial-Pigeon, Grey-tailed Tattler, Hair-crested Drongo, Little Heron, Mantanani Scops-Owl, Olive-backed Sunbird, Olive-winged Bulbul, Pacific Swallow, Philippine Cockatoo, Pied Fantail, Pied Triller, Rufous Night-Heron, Rufous-tailed Tailorbird, Slender-billed Crow, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Striped Tit-Babbler, Tabon Scrubfowl, Whimbrel, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, White-breasted Wood-swallow, White-vented Shama.

Other Activities in the Area
Bat watching, swimming, snorkeling and island-hopping.

HUNDRED ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Alaminos City, Pangasinan

Birdwatching in the Hundred Islands National Park offers the unique opportunity to see birds while inside a boat. Bird colonies harbor terns and herons in large numbers. Other islands that play host to other species such as pitas and flycatchers can be visited and trekked by birders. An interesting find in the area is the Roseate Tern that has started to breed in some of the smaller, rocky islands. There is a good chance to see the breeding terns and their fledglings in the months of June to July.

Recorded Birds in Hundred Islands National Park
Asian Glossy Starling, Barred Rail, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Black-naped Oriole, Black-naped Tern, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Bright-capped Cisticola, Chestnut Munia, Cinnamon Bittern, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Greater Sand- Plover, Hooded Pitta, Large-billed Crow, Lesser Coucal, Lesser Sand-Plover, Little Egret, Little Heron, Long-tailed Shrike, Lowland White-eye, Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, Olive-backed Sunbird,
Oriental Magpie-Robin, Pacific Swallow, Philippine Duck, Philippine Tailorbird, Pied Buschat, Pied Fantail, Pink-necked Green-Pigeon, Red Junglefowl, Red Turtle-Dove, Rufous Night-Heron, Rufous-necked Stint, Scaly-breasted Munia, Spotted Dove, Watercock, White-breasted Wood-swallow, White-collared Kingfisher, White-eared Brown-Dove, White-throated Kingfisher, Yellow Bittern, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Zebra Dove.

Other Activities in the Area
Swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, parasailing and easy trekking.

BANGRIN MARINE PROTECTED AREA, BANI
Bani, Pangasinan

For the sheer number of migratory birds and the proximity one can get to the roosting site, the Bangrin Marine Protected Area in the municipality of Bani, Pangasinan is an ideal birdwatcher's and bird photographer's paradise. It is a 63.3-hectare mangrove forest rehabilitation site recently declared as a bird sanctuary in 2001. With the wide expanse of the mudflats, it is not surprising to discover new records for Bani.

Recorded Birds in Bani
Arctic Warbler, Asian Glossy Starling, Asian Golden-Plover, Barred Rail, Black Bittern, Black-naped Oriole, Black-naped Tern, Black-winged Stilt, Bright-capped Cisticola, Brush Cuckoo, Buff-banded Rail, Cattle Egret, Chestnut Munia, Cinnamon Bittern, Common Emerald-Dove, Common Moorhen, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Gull-billed Tern, Intermediate Egret, Island Collared-Dove, Java Sparrow, Large-billed Crow, Little Egret, Little Ringed-Plover, Long-toed Stint, Lowland White-eye, Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher, Northern Shoveler, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Red Turtle-Dove, Rufous Night-Heron, Sanderling, Savanna Nightjar, Scaly-breasted Munia, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Slaty-breasted Rail, White-breasted Waterhen, White-browed Crake, White-winged Tern, Yellow Bittern, Zebra Dove.

Other Activities in the Area
Aside from birdwatching and boating, tourist activities and facilities at present are limited in Bani. The coastal areas offer swimming opportunities.

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE
Zambales

This former American Naval Base sits on a huge swathe of protected lowland forest area and is home to a very good number of bird species, many of which are endemic to the Philippines. This is also considered an easy birding site as the fliers can be seen from the roadsides and forest edges. On a single birding day, there is a good chance to see a combination of raptors, parrots, coucals, malkohas and hornbills.

Recorded Birds in Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Balicassiao, Bar-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike, Barred Rail, Black-chinned Fruit-Dove, Blackish Cuckoo-Shrike, Black-naped Oriole, Blue-naped Parrot, Blue-throated Bee-eater, Brahminy Kite, Colasisi, Coleto, Collared Kingfisher, Common Emerald Dove, Crested Myna, Crested Serpent-eagle, Dollarbird, Elegant Tit, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Glossy Swiftlet, Greater Flameback, Green Imperial-Pigeon, Green Racquet-tail, Guaiabero, Large-billed Crow, Oriental Honeybuzzard, Pacific Swallow, Philippine Bulbul, Philippine Coucal, Philippine Cuckoo-Dove, Philippine Scops-Owl, Philippine Tailorbird, Pompadour Green-Pigeon, Red Junglefowl, Red-crested Malkoha, Rufous Coucal, Rufous Paradise-Flycatcher, Scale-feathered Malkoha, Sooty Woodpecker, Spotted Buttonquail, Tarictic Hornbill, Whiskered Treeswift, White-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Wood-Swallow, White-browed Shama, White-eared Brown-Dove, White-fronted Tit, White-throated Kingfisher, Yellow-vented Bulbul.

Other Activities in the Area
Swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback-riding, zip line adventures, trekking, lessons on jungle survival, cultural interaction, and sightseeing.

BALANGA CITY
Bataan (Puerto Rivas / Tortugas / Sibacan)

Bataan Peninsula lies in what is known as the East Asian-Australian Flyway. Balanga City, the capital of Bataan, is an attractive stopover for migratory birds. The 3 villages (barangays) of Puerto Rivas, Tortugas and Sibacan are the most popular feeding grounds for thousands of migratory birds that include gulls, terns, herons and egrets. A visit to Balanga City promises a spectacle of one of the largest concentrations of migratory birds. It also provides great opportunities for bird photographers to get detailed and impressive birdshots.

Recorded Birds in Balanga City
Arctic Warbler, Asian Dowitcher, Asian Golden-Plover, Barn Swallow, Barred Rail, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Black-headed Gull, Black-winged Stilt, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Brahminy Kite, Bright-capped Cisticola, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Brown Shrike, Buff-banded Rail, Cattle Egret, Chestnut Munia, Chestnut-cheeked Starling, Cinnamon Bittern, Clamorous Reed-Warbler, Common Greenshank, Common Kingfisher, Common Moorhen, Common Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Crested Mynah, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Golden-bellied Flyeater, Great Egret, Greater Sand-Plover, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Grey Wagtail, Grey-tailed Tattler, Intermediate Egret, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand-Plover, Little Egret, Little Heron, Little Ringed-Plover, Little Tern, Long-tailed Shrike, Long-toed Stint, Marsh Sandpiper, Olive-backed Sunbird, Pacific Swallow, Peregrine Falcon, Pied Fantail, Pied Triller, Purple Heron, Ruddy Turnstone, Rufous Night-Heron, Rufous-necked Stint, Sanderling, Scaly-breasted Munia, Striated Grassbird, Terek Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Whiskered Tern, White-breasted Waterhen, White-browed Crake, White-collared Kingfisher, White-shouldered Starling, White-winged Tern, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Bittern, Yellow Wagtail, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Zebra Dove, Zitting Cisticola

Other Activities in the Area
While in the area, one can shop for local products and delicacies.

CANDABA MARSH
Pampanga

Candaba Marsh is 32,000 hectares of wetlands and is the first protected area where migratory and endemic birds flock by the thousands. The wetland is a complex of freshwater ponds, swamps, and marshes with surrounding areas of grasslands and rice fields. It has been declared as a bird sanctuary by the local government unit.

Recorded Birds in Balanga City
Barn Swallow, Black Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Cattle Egret, Chestnut Munia, Cinnamon Bittern, Common Greenshank, Common Kingfisher, Common Moorhen, Eastern Marsh-Harrier, EurasianTree Sparrow, Garganey, Grass Owl, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Island Collared-Dove, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Ringed-Plover, Long-tailed Shrike, Marsh Sandpiper, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Oriental Pratincole, Peregrine Falcon, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Philippine Duck, Pied Bushchat, Plain Bush-hen, Purple Heron, Purple Swamphen, Striated Grassbird, Whiskered Tern, White-breasted Waterhen, White-browed Crake, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Bittern, Zebra Dove.

Other Activities in the Area
The nearby Clark Ecozone offers various recreation opportunities that range from resort-based programs to aerial sports, and trekking to Mt. Pinatubo.

LAS PIÑAS-PARAÑAQUE CRITICAL HABITAT AND ECOTOURISM ZONE
Metro Manila

This site is a recently declared protected area designed to help preserve one of the few feeding and resting grounds of migratory birds using the East Asian Flyway. Encompassing more than 100 hectares of mangroves, coastal plains and tidal lagoons, thousands of birds fill the site. The site was a former reclamation project that, todate, remains uncompleted. This allowed the formation of tidal lagoons and mudflats that, in turn, became ideal feeding and roosting grounds for the migratory birds. An open space that serves as a parking lot and a bird station area is located near the road. In one site, there are only trails leading to the ideal birding spots. However, one must have a birding guide as it will be easy to get lost amidst the tall grasses.

Recorded Birds in the Area
Arctic Warbler, Asian Golden-Plover, Barn Swallow, Barred Rail, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-headed Gull, Black-winged Stilt, Brown Shrike, Buff-banded Rail, Chestnut Munia, Clamorous Reed-Warbler, Common Greenshank, Common Kingfisher, Common Moorhen, Common Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Crested Myna, Eurasian Kestrel, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Intermediate Egret, Island Collared-Dove, Kentish Plover, Little Egret, Little Heron, Little Ringed-Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Peregrine Falcon, Pied Fantail, Rufous-necked Stint, Scaly-breasted Munia, Siberian Rubythroat, Spotted Dove, Striated Grassbird, Whimbrel, Whiskered Tern, White-browed Crake, White-collared Kingfisher, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Bittern, Yellow Wagtail, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Zebra Dove.

MT. PALAY-PALAY NATIONAL PARK
Ternate, Cavite

Mt. Palay-Palay National Park is the largest chunk of lowland forest nearest to Manila. It is also the only remaining forest in the province of Cavite. The park is host to several interesting forest dwellers and raptors such as kites and the endemic Philippine Falconet. Its non-raptor large resident is the Rufous Hornbill, which is found only in the Philippines.

Another birdwatching site near Mt. Palay-Palay is Caylabne Bay Resort where one can see Asian Glossy Starlings and Philippine Ducks.

Recorded Birds in Mt. Palay-Palay and nearby Caylabne Resort
Asian Glossy Starling, Black-chinned Fruit Dove, Blackish Cuckoo Shrike, Black-naped Monarch, Black-naped Oriole, Blue Rock Thrush, Brahminy Kite, Colasisi, Coleto, Common Emerald Dove, Coppersmith Barbet, Crested Serpent Eagle, Elegant Tit, Glossy Swiftlet, Grey-backed Tailorbird, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Guaiabero, Lowland White-eye, Luzon Bleeding-heart, Luzon Tarictic Hornbill, Philippine Bulbul, Philippine Coucal, Philippine Duck, Philippine Fairy-Bluebird, Philippine Falconet, Philippine Hawk Owl, Philippine Trogon, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Pygmy Swiftlet, Red-crested Malkoha, Red-keeled Flowerpecker, Rufous Hornbill, Scale-feathered Malkoha, Sooty Woodpecker, Spotted Wood-Kingfisher, Stripe-headed Rhabdornis, Whiskered Tree-swift, White-bellied Sea Eagle, White-breasted Wood-swallow, White-browed Shama, White-eared Brown Dove.

Other Activities in the Area
Being located near a resort facility, one can do various water sports such as jet skiing, and kayaking. Trekking is also possible in the low-level but challenging peak called Pico de Loro (Parrot's Beak).

VILLA ESCUDERO
Tiaong, Quezon

Established in 1872, Villa Escudero is a coconut plantation, and has been home to four generations of the Escudero family. In 1981, a portion of the plantation was converted into a resort. Farmers and their families now play host to local and foreign tourists. An APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) awardee for community-based tourism, the resort is now one of the major tourist destinations in the country showcasing Filipino culture and heritage in a rural setting.

Although dominated by coconuts in most parts of the estate, the site has some good pockets of greenery that have become the sanctuary of many forest bird species. The resort is an easy birding site where one can spot different species of grassland birds, endemic kingfishers, and forest birds.

Recorded Birds in Villa Escudero
Barred Rail, Black-naped Oriole, Blue- tailed Bee-eater, Brown Shrike, Cattle Egret, Cinnamon Bittern, Common Emerald Dove, Common Moorhen, Crested Myna, Golden-bellied Flyeater (Golden-bellied Gerygone), Grey Heron, Indigo-banded Kingfisher, Large-billed Crow, Little Heron, Lowland White-eye, Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, Olive-backed Sunbird, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Oriental Skylark, Philippine Bulbul,
Philippine Coucal, Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, Pied Bushchat, Pied Fantail, Purple Heron, Red-keeled Flowerpecker (Red-striped Flowerpecker), Scaly-breasted Munia, Spotted Dove, Striated Grassbird, Watercock, White-breasted Waterhen (White-breasted Bush-hen), White-breasted Wood-swallow, White-browed Crake, White-collared Kingfisher (Collared Kingfisher), White-thoated Kingfisher, Yellow Bittern, Yellow-vented Bulbul.

Other Activities in the Area
Museum tour, carabao cart rides, cultural show, village tour, bamboo rafting, coconut harvesting demonstration, and lunch at the Labasin waterfalls.

ALCOY FOREST
Cebu

Sometimes known as Nug-as Forest, this 800-hectare area of residual and regenerated forest in the southern part of Cebu Island is home to highly endangered and interesting endemic species such as the Black Shama and the Cebu Flowerpecker. Known for its melodious calls, the Black Shama has been attracting both foreign and local bird enthusiasts. About 91 species of birds have been recorded in Alcoy.

The smaller and more elusive Cebu Flowerpecker is another interesting species in the area. It is considered a trophy bird, not only by birders, but also by bird photographers. Todate, nobody has taken a good photo of this bird in the wild. Its very small size, fast movement and fleeting appearance contribute to its elusiveness. Declared extinct in 1959, it was rediscovered in another Cebu forest patch in December 1992.

Recorded Birds in Alcoy
Balicassiao, Black Shama, Black-naped Oriole, Cebu Flowerpecker, Citrine Canary-Flycatcher, Common Emerald Dove, Coppersmith Barbet, Crimson Sunbird, Everett's White-eye, Green Imperial-Pigeon, Handsome Sunbird, Hooded Pitta, Lemon-throated Leaf-Warbler, Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Philippine Bulbul, Philippine Leaf-Warbler, Pied Fantail, Pied Triller, Pink-bellied Imperial-Pigeon, Pygmy Flowerpecker, Red-keeled Flowerpecker, Streak-breasted Bulbul, White-eared Brown-Dove, White-vented Whistler, Yellow-vented Bulbul.

Other Activities in the Area
Swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving.

OLANGO ISLAND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu

Olango Island has been an established birdwatching destination that showcases impressive numbers of migratory species, especially during the months of September to March. The area most visited by the migratory birds has been declared as a 920-hectare sanctuary that protects both the birds and the habitat that comprise of mangroves, sea grasses, and mudflats. Its significance as a bird sanctuary becomes more apparent with the presence of vulnerable and near threatened species such as the Chinese Egret and Asian Dowitcher.

Recorded sightings total about 97 species of birds, 48 of which are migratory and 42 are resident, and the rest are yet to be fully identified. 54 types of water birds have so far been spotted in the island- 32 waders, 13 waterfowls and 9 seabirds.

Recorded Birds in Olango Island
Asian Dowitcher, Barn Swallow, Bar-tailed Godwit, Brown Shrike, Chinese Egret, Common Greenshank, Common Kingfisher, Common Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew, Far Eastern Curlew, Golden-bellied Fly-eater, Great Knot, Greater Sand-Plover, Grey Plover, Grey-tailed Tattler, Gull-billed Tern, Kentish Plover, Little Egret, Little Heron, Olive-backed Sunbird, Pacific Swallow, Pied Fantail, Ruddy Turnstone, Rufous-necked Stint, Terek Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Whiskered Tern, White-collared Kingfisher, Yellow-vented Bulbul.

Other Activities in the Area
Swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving in nearby marine reserves such as Hilutungan in the town of Cordova.

PHILIPPINE EAGLE CENTER
Malagos, Davao City

The Philippine Eagle Center, located at the foothills of the majestic Mt. Apo, is operated by the Philippine Eagle Foundation as a facility for the care and propagation of the endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). The center houses 32 eagles, 18 of which were successfully bred through human intervention (captive-bred). Here, one can see up close the remarkable eagle, and make a life-changing impression for all who have seen it in the wild. The center also serves as a rescue center for other species.

The nearby Malagos Garden Resort also offers birdwatching opportunities, and even a bird show every Sunday. It is a 12-hectare inland nature theme resort with amenities of a full service resort.

Recorded Birds in Philippine Eagle Center
Black-and-Cinnamon Fantail, Black-faced Coucal, Blue-crowned Racquet-tail, Brown Tit-Babbler, Brush Cuckoo, Chestnut Munia, Cinnamon Ibon, Dark-eared Brown-Dove, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Everett's White-eye, Glossy Swiftlet, Golden-bellied Fly-eater, Little Spiderhunter, Mindanao Lorikeet, Olive-backed Sunbird, Olive-capped Flowerpecker, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Rufous Night-Heron, Scarlet Minivet, Silvery Kingfisher, Stripe-breasted Rhabdornis, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, White-breasted Wood-swallow, White-throated Kingfisher, Yellow-breasted Fruit-Dove, Yellowish Bulbul, Yellow-vented Bulbul.

Other Activities in the Area
Sightseeing, educational trips, falconry (by arrangement).