Top 10 Birds In Your Backyard: Fascinating Facts You Need To Know

As relaxed as looking at a bird perched on a wire or as deliberate as viewing it on your binoculars, we know there is something more than meets the eye. The Haribon Foundation helps us preserve our local feathered-friends by giving us the heads up on the top 10 urban birds you can find in your very own backyard and some facts you probably have not heard about them.

1. Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Above A Eurasian Tree Sparrow spotted in Culasi, Antique | Photo: Courtesy of David G. Quimpo

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

Above The Yellow-vented Bulbul in Quezon City | Photo: Courtesy of David G. Quimpo

Easily identified by its yellow bottom, this bird sports a mohawk comparable to that of the infamous hairstyle.

3. Pied Fantail

Above The Pied Fantail | Photo: Courtesy of Wikicommons

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 by its black & white color, but its fan-like tail, giving it its name.

Above Chestnut Munia found in CPU (Central Philippine University), Iloilo City | Photo: Courtesy of David G. Quimpo

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.

Above Olive-backed Sunbird spotted in San Juaquin, Iloilo | Photo: Courtesy of David G. Quimpo

Olive-backed Sunbird

Seen in pairs feeding in flowering trees, the olive-backed sunbird is one of the commonly-seen sunbirds in Metro Manila.

4. Zebra Dove

Above The Zebra Dove seen in Quezon City | Photo: Courtesy of David G. Quimpo

This bird is locally called bato bato because of its ability to stay perfectly still like a stone.

5. Black-naped Oriole 

Above Black-naped Oriole captured near St. Peter Parsih, Commonwealth Ave | Photo: Courtesy of David G. Quimpo

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.

6. Pied Triller

Above The beautiful Pied Triller | Photo: Courtesy of Wikicommons

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.

7. Collared Kingfisher

Above Photo: Courtesy of David G. Quimpo

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.

8. Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker

Above Philippines Pygmy Woodpecker seen in BMB, Quezon City | Photo: Courtesy of David G. Quimpo

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.

Know more about our feathered neighbors. Join Haribon's Birds in the City, a nationwide urban bird watch on July 15 and 16, 2017 | Visit Haribon's official Facebook page @goharibon for the complete campaign mechanics and information about urban birds.

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