Birding the Philippines: Philippine Endemic Birds Galore!

Birding the Philippines: Philippine Endemic Birds Galore!

The Philippines is one of the most biodiverse places in the world and has a high degree of endemism, which combines to make it one of the most exciting birding destinations in Southeast Asia. The country consists of over 7,600 islands, covering an area of over 115,831 square miles (300,000 square kilometers) in the western Pacific Ocean. Of the 768 species recorded across the archipelago (following AviList 2025 taxonomy), an impressive 266 species are endemic. These Philippine endemic birds include the national bird of the Philippines, the huge Philippine Eagle (historically referred to as the “Monkey-eating Eagle”), and probably the most-wanted bird for most visiting birdwatchers, the humongous eagle is a huge target on this small-group tour. The birding sites we visit on this Philippines bird tour means a small group is much more likely to be successful in finding the amazing endemic birds on offer. All our tours are small-group tours, but this is one destination where that fact is particularly important.

Lina’s Sunbird is only found on a few mountains on the Philippine island of Mindanao and will be targeted on our exciting Philippine birdwatching tour.

The Philippines is home to 18 endemic owls, nine endemic kingfishers (and another eight more widespread species), ten endemic hornbills, 13 endemic parrots, two endemic broadbills, one stunning endemic trogon, two endemic pittas (plus another near-endemic species), and 19 endemic pigeons (including some absolute belters!). In addition to the endemics, the Philippines has become (during the northern winter) a fairly reliable place to find the Critically Endangered (IUCN) Chinese Crested Tern and Vulnerable (and globally hard-to-connect-with) Japanese Night Heron, and we will be looking for both of these important species on this Philippines birding tour.

Deforestation is a huge issue in the Philippines, and it is a major threat to the survival of many birds, ninety seven species are considered globally threatened by BirdLife International/IUCN. Time is fast running out for many of these unique and wonderful birds and so a visit to the Philippines is recommended sooner rather than later.

Japanese Night Heron would prove a very big non-endemic highlight on this Philippines birding tour.

With the above in mind, our small-group Philippine birding tour focusses on the Philippine bird endemics (and overwintering specials) of the three bird-rich islands of Mindanao, Luzon, and Palawan, with a long list of potential highlights, including some of the most highly sought-after birds in the world and some of the best birds in the Philippines.

Major tour targets on our Philippine bird tour will include Philippine Eagle (one of the aforementioned Critically Endangered species), Palawan Peacock-Pheasant, Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove, Purple Needletail, Palawan Frogmouth, Philippine Frogmouth,Bukidnon Woodcock, Philippine Eagle-Owl, Giant Scops Owl, Mindanao Scops Owl, Green Racket-tail, Mindanao Hornbill, Luzon Hornbill, Rufous Hornbill, Philippine Trogon, Southern Silvery Kingfisher, Spotted Wood Kingfisher, Blue-capped Kingfisher, (Mindanao) Wattled Broadbill, Azure-breasted Pitta, Philippine Pitta, Celestial Monarch, Mountain Shrike, Apo Myna, Coleto, Ashy Thrush, Lina’s Sunbird, Cinnamon Ibon, and many more! We will utilize specialist local guides to make the most of our birding on each island and look forward to a great trip list packed with amazing endemic birds of the Philippines.

Luzon Boobook is one of many interesting owl targets while birding in the Philippines.

Detailed Itinerary (18 days/17 nights)

Day 1. Arrival in Manila (Luzon)

A non-birding day. You will be met at Manila International Airport on the island of Luzon, after your arrival in the Philippines, and will be transferred to our nearby hotel for the rest of the day at your leisure. We will meet for a group welcome dinner together in the evening.

Overnight: Manila, Luzon

Day 2. Manila (Luzon) to Cagayan de Oro (Mindanao) and transfer to Mount Kitanglad

We will transfer from our hotel in Manila back to the airport for our flight to Cagayan de Oro on the island of Mindanao, where we should arrive mid-morning. After our arrival, we will commence our journey to the world famous (at least amongst birders!) Mount Kitanglad. We may have time for some late afternoon birding around our basic tented camp accommodation, but our main aim for the day is to ensure we arrive there before it gets dark. We will spend three nights at the tented camp and have two full days for birding at wonderful Mt. Kitanglad.

Overnight: Mount Kitanglad, Mindanao

The gorgeous Sulphur-billed Nuthatch is a common Philippine endemic species and we might spot one on our hike to our accommodation on Mount Kitanglad.

Days 3 – 4. Mount Kitanglad birding

We will put a particular emphasis on searching for, and hopefully seeing, the humongous Philippine Eagle. We will look for it at a watchpoint higher up the mountain from our accommodation, at around 5,000 feet (1,550 meters). As we walk up to the eagle viewpoint, the remnant forest patches in the area can be good for mixed-species feeding flocks which may contain Yellow-bellied Whistler, Black-and-cinnamon Fantail, Negros Leaf Warbler, Sulphur-billed Nuthatch, Turquoise Flycatcher, and the rather odd Cinnamon Ibon – an aberrant sparrow found in Mindanao’s montane forests and previously thought to be a white-eye!

We might also find Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove, Amethyst Brown Dove, and White-eared Brown Dove in fruiting trees, while flowering trees may yield Flame-crowned Flowerpecker. We will have to carefully look in the undergrowth for the gorgeous, but secretive Blue-capped Kingfisher. We will also, of course, spend plenty of time looking up for Philippine Eagle.

As we hike through the mid-level trails, we might locate the fantastic Apo Myna, a striking and unique-looking starling found only at four remote mountain sites in the Philippines. We will also look for Mindanao (Tarictic) Hornbill, Brown-breasted Kingfisher, Plain Bush-hen, Philippine Swiftlet, Philippine Hanging Parrot, Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo, McGregor’s Cuckooshrike, White-cheeked Bullfinch, Red-eared Parrotfinch, Rufous-headed Tailorbird, and Mindanao Heleia here.

We will be constantly looking out for Philippine Eagle of course, but we are likely to also see other raptors on Mt. Kitanglad, like Crested Honey Buzzard (an endemic subspecies), Philippine Honey Buzzard, Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle, and Rufous-bellied Eagle. Further entertainment is possible in the form of Mindanao Racket-tail, Mountain Shrike, Stripe-breasted Rhabdornis, Coleto, Grey-headed Sunbird, Apo Sunbird, and Bundok Flycatcher. The Apo Sunbird is reached via an additional (and slightly more challenging) hike beyond the Philippine Eagle viewpoint, to an elevation of around 6,070 – 6,560 feet (1,850 – 2,000 meters), but it is worth it to connect with this localized and exciting endemic.

At dusk close to our accommodation, we will have a chance to see Bukidnon Woodcock, which was discovered as recently as 1993 and, at night, Philippine Frogmouth, Philippine Nightjar, and Giant Scops Owl will be targeted.

Overnight (two further nights): Mount Kitanglad, Mindanao

We will look for the attractive Mountain Shrike while birding on Mount Kitanglad.

Day 5. Transfer between Mount Kitanglad and Davao

After what is sure to have been a thrilling couple of days birding on Mount Kitanglad, we will reluctantly head down the mountain early. Thereafter we will make our way to the southern city of Davao, having lunch along the way.

In the afternoon we will reach our accommodation, which is located in part of the Apo-Talomo range. Located at around 3,000 feet (900 meters) on the densely forested slopes of Mount Talomo, which reaches 8,800 feet (2,674 meters), the area around our accommodation offers a great opportunity to see a selection of Mindanao’s endemics, including some great montane and sub-montane species.

We should have some time for birding during the afternoon, when we can make a start on the birds listed below. This region is known for overwintering Japanese Night Heron during some recent years, this is a tough bird to connect with globally, so we will be keeping a keen eye out during our time in the area for this major non-endemic target. At night (or early the following morning) we will try for Everett’s Scops Owl and Giant Scops Owl, both of which have been recorded close by.

Overnight: Davao

We will look for Giant Scops Owl around our accommodation (photo Harry Ramm).

Day 6. Early morning Davao birding and travel to Bislig (via Panabo)

We will have some time for early morning birding in the area in search of Cryptic Flycatcher (a localized mid-altitude Mindanao endemic), Whiskered Flowerpecker, and some of the more common endemics like Red-keeled Flowerpecker and Mindanao (Tarictic) Hornbill. Careful study of the mixed-species feeding flocks should give us Brown Tit-Babbler and Orange-tufted Spiderhunter. Here we may also find Southern Silvery Kingfisher, Philippine Coucal, White-eared Brown Dove, Coleto, Philippine Bulbul, Philippine Pied Fantail, Elegant Tit, and Ridgetop Swiftlet.

Leaving Davao for Bislig, we will call in to a coastal site at Panabo to look for the Critically Endangered Chinese Crested Tern, a very rare species globally but one that has been recorded recently in this area. While looking for the Chinese Crested Tern, other terns, gulls, shorebirds, and wading birds we may find here could include Pied Stilt, Grey Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, Far Eastern Curlew, Ruddy Turnstone, Great Knot, Grey-tailed Tattler, Terek Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Black-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Little Egret, Chinese Egret, and Javan Pond Heron, though our main focus of this stop will be for Chinese Crested Tern.

We will hope for a repeat of this magical sight of two Chinese Crested Terns (birds on right).

We should have time, after arriving in Bislig, to fit in a visit to the near disused Bislig Airfield. This site has a large bird list and so we will hope for a good selection of open-country species like Philippine Duck, Wandering Whistling Duck, Purple (Philippine) Swamphen, Watercock, Barred Rail, White-browed Crake, King Quail, Philippine Coucal, Ameline Swiftlet, Yellow Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern, Black Bittern, Collared Kingfisher, Black-naped Oriole, Brown Shrike, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Pied Bush Chat, White-bellied Munia, Chestnut Munia, Paddyfield Pipit, Philippine Nightjar, and maybe even Eastern Grass Owl or overwintering Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler.

Overnight: Bislig, Mindanao

Days 7 – 8. PICOP Forest birding

Over the course of three days, we will explore the various roads and trails of PICOP Forest in search of many spectacular species. PICOP was granted a logging concession of mainly lowland forest in eastern Mindanao in 1952, however after around 30 years of logging the concession failed. PICOP Forest is probably one of the most famous birding sites in the Philippines, however, there are illegal logging operations underway here, and the area and its birdlife are heavily threatened. This is a further example of why a birding trip to the Philippines is something to do sooner rather than later. PICOP Forest is still the best place to see the glorious Celestial Monarch (one of the top birds in the archipelago, though it is never easy) and the amazing holy grail (Mindanao) Wattled Broadbill; these will be two major targets during our time here, though there will also be many others we will be looking for, some are mentioned below.

In addition to the monarch and broadbill, other top targets will include Philippine Spinetail, Azure-breasted Pitta, Philippine Pitta, Southern Silvery Kingfisher, (Southern) Rufous Hornbill, Writhed Hornbill, Striated Wren-Babbler, and with Mindanao Boobook and Chocolate Boobook both possible after dark, it is sure to be an exciting few days’ birding.

Azure-breasted Pitta is one of several major targets at the world famous PICOP birding area.

There are several well-known birdwatching sites in PICOP Forest, and we will likely check those out, as well as some different, off-the-beaten-track areas. While birding these areas we will have our first opportunity for (Mindanao) Wattled Broadbill and Celestial Monarch. We will seek out mixed species feeding flocks, which both of these species frequently join. These flocks will also likely give us a lot of other potential species, such as Mindanao Blue Fantail, Rufous Paradise Flycatcher, Short-crested Monarch, Philippine Bulbul, Black-headed Tailorbird, Rusty-crowned Babbler, Mindanao Pygmy Babbler, Little Slaty Flycatcher, Stripe-headed Rhabdornis, and Philippine Leaf Warbler.

Fruiting trees in the area may hold a range of trogons, parrots, pigeons, fruit doves, and hornbills, with Philippine Trogon, Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Philippine Green Pigeon, Black-chinned Fruit Dove, Guaiabero (a tiny parrot endemic to the Philippines, belonging to a unique genus), Blue-crowned Racket-tail, Writhed Hornbill, Mindanao (Tarictic) Hornbill, and (Southern) Rufous Hornbill all possible, though with human pressures on the forest, these species are getting more difficult year-on-year.

Philippine Serpent Eagle can be found at several locations on the tour.

A great number of birds can be found by looking along the forest roads and clearings, and this may yield additional species, such as Philippine Spinetail, Pygmy Swiftlet, Philippine Serpent Eagle, Buff-spotted Flameback, White-bellied Woodpecker, Philippine Falconet, Blue-capped Kingfisher, Winchell’s Kingfisher, Southern Silvery Kingfisher, Azure-breasted Pitta, Black-and-white Triller, Philippine Leafbird, Black-bibbed Cicadabird, Philippine Oriole, Philippine Magpie-Robin, Striated Wren-Babbler, and Metallic-winged Sunbird.

Philippine Oriole can be seen while birding at PICOP on the island of Mindanao.

Our two full days birding at PICOP (along with our final morning on Day 9) will be long and tiring, but should be very rewarding. We will take some time resting in the forest during the heat of the middle of the day (with our picnic lunch) to maximize our birding time, rather than going back to our accommodation for a rest. We will travel from Bislig town to PICOP in a private jeepney, a colorful local form of transport and a unique experience.

Overnight (two further nights): Bislig, Mindanao

The attractive Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle can be found while birding at PICOP.

Day 9. PICOP to Compostella Valley

After some final morning birding in PICOP Forest we will transfer to Compostella Valley, where we hope to arrive in time for some late afternoon birding, where one of our targets will be the beautiful Lina’s Sunbird (see itinerary cover image). Birding here can get quite exciting as many species pass through the forest habitat, including Black-and-cinnamon Fantail, Negros Island Thrush, and Mindanao Heleia. At night, we will also try for Mindanao Scops Owl, which is one of the most difficult owls to connect with in the country.

Overnight: Compostella Valley, Mindanao

A tough but beautiful bird, we will hope for views of Mindanao Scops Owl during the tour (photo Harry Ramm).

Day 10. Compostella Valley birding and transfer to Davao (via Panabo), then Manila (Luzon)

An early start today will see us birding Compostella Valley for the morning. Our aim will be to connect with any species left over from the previous day’s birding, and may include Philippine Serpent Eagle, Philippine Cuckoo-Dove, Amethyst Brown Dove, Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove, Spotted Imperial Pigeon, Black-faced Coucal, Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle, (Philippine) Yellow-vented Bulbul, Philippine Bulbul, Coleto, Little Pied Flycatcher, Red-eared Parrotfinch, Cinnamon Ibon, Grey Wagtail, and the skulking Long-tailed Bush Warbler.

We will leave the Compostella Valley this morning and we will make our way back to Davao for our flight to Manila, where we will spend the night. If we were unsuccessful with our search for Chinese Crested Tern earlier in the tour, we will have a further opportunity today to look for this most wanted of migrating birds and will adjust our time in the Compostella area as necessary to incorporate a session of coastal birding.

Overnight: Manila, Luzon

Day 11. La Mesa Ecopark to Infanta Road

An early start will see us departing our accommodation in Manila for La Mesa Ecopark on the edge of the city. Here, over the course of a couple of hours, we will look for the gorgeous and tough (and highly sought after) Ashy Thrush. The thrush will be our main target, however there will be other interesting possibilities at the site, including Philippine Eagle-Owl, which can sometimes be found roosting. Other species to keep our eyes peeled for here include White-eared Brown Dove, Grey-rumped Swiftlet, Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, (Philippine) Black-naped Oriole, Philippine Pied Fantail, Philippine Bulbul, Lowland White-eye, Grey-backed Tailorbird, Brown-headed Thrush, Philippine Magpie-Robin, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, and Red-keeled Flowerpecker.

Ashy Thrush is usually shy and retiring, however with luck we will hope for good views, like this, early in the morning before La Mesa Ecopark gets busy.

After birding at La Mesa Ecopark, we will commence our journey to Infanta Road. Along the way we may stop to look for species such as Spotted Buttonquail, Rough-crested Malkoha, Brown-breasted Kingfisher, Indigo-banded Kingfisher, (Northern) Philippine Dwarf Kingfisher, Luzon Hornbill, Rufous-crowned Bee-eater, Chirruping Nightjar (if we can find one roosting), and Red-keeled Flowerpecker.

Infanta Road offers some great birding potential, with many Luzon endemics available. In addition to late this afternoon, we will have the full day tomorrow (and early morning on Day 13) to work our way through the long list of targets mentioned in Day 12.

Overnight: Infanta Road, Luzon

Day 12. Full day birding at Infanta Road

We will have the full day birding at Infanta Road (as well as some time during the previous afternoon and following morning). There are a number of target species possible at Infanta Road and we will carefully bird the area seeking them out. Most of the birding here is carried out along the roadside, where we will look for fruiting trees and mixed species flocks. Some of the top birds here (which also includes some of the toughest) include Flame-breasted Fruit Dove, White-browed Shama, Bicol Ground Warbler, and Calabarzon Babbler, though the highlights don’t stop there, with many other thrilling possibilities.

At fruiting and flowering trees we will keep our eyes peeled for Amethyst Brown Dove, Cream-breasted Fruit Dove, (Northern) Rufous Hornbill, Philippine Hanging Parrot, Philippine Bulbul, Yellow-wattled Bulbul, Philippine Fairy-bluebird, Olive-backed Flowerpecker, Buzzing Flowerpecker, and Flaming Sunbird. The mixed species flocks can hold Scale-feathered Malkoha, the inquisitive Elegant Tit, Blue-headed Fantail, Citrine Canary-flycatcher, Grey-backed Tailorbird, Lemon-throated Leaf Warbler, Yellowish White-eye, and Sulphur-billed Nuthatch. Both (Northern) Philippine Dwarf Kingfisher and Whiskered Pitta occur in the area, but both are very difficult and will take a substantial amount of luck to see during a short visit.

As we scan overlooks, clearings, and viewpoints we might see Philippine Falconet, Philippine Serpent Eagle, and Philippine Hawk Eagle, along with more common and widespread raptors and at night we will try for the difficult Luzon Scops Owl, with a chance of both Philippine Scops Owl and Luzon Boobook.

Overnight: Infanta Road, Luzon

Blue-headed Fantail is a pretty member of mixed species flocks at Infanta Road.

Day 13. Infanta Road to Subic Bay via Candaba Marsh

We will have some early morning birding along the Infanta Road, seeking out anything mentioned in Day 12 that may have eluded us. We will then depart for our drive to Subic Bay, stopping for lunch along the way. We will also call in at Candaba Marsh where we will look for a few target birds, such as Philippine Duck, Wandering Whistling Duck, Purple (Philippine) Swamphen, Watercock, Greater Painted-snipe, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, and more.

Overnight: Subic Bay, Luzon

We will hope for good views of the beautiful Philippine Fairy-bluebird.

Day 14. Subic Bay Watershed Reserve birding

The Subic Bay area and adjacent Bataan National Park contains some of the last significant areas of lowland dipterocarp forest in western Luzon. Subic Bay was previously a US naval facility, and this resulted in the protection of large tracts of forest, which is now protected as a watershed reserve. This is a great area and there are numerous target birds for us to look for during the day.

The site is the best area for a number of Luzon specials, particularly the Endangered (IUCN) endemic Green Racket-tail, along with an exciting supporting cast, the likes of which might include Blue-naped Parrot, Scale-feathered Malkoha, Rough-crested Malkoha, Philippine Hawk-Eagle, Philippine Serpent Eagle, Philippine Green Pigeon, Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove, Spotted Imperial Pigeon, Whiskered Treeswift, Rufous-crowned Bee-eater, Luzon (Tarictic) Hornbill, Luzon Flameback, Northern Sooty Woodpecker, Philippine Falconet, Blackish Cuckooshrike, Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike, Trilling Tailorbird, Rufous Coucal, White-browed Shama, Spotted Wood Kingfisher, Stripe-headed Rhabdornis, Pygmy Swiftlet, Balicassiao (a drongo!), Philippine Fairy-bluebird, Handsome Sunbird, and possibly rarities like White-lored Oriole and White-fronted Tit (though these would require a solid dose of good fortune). At night here we will look for the attractive and sought after Chocolate Boobook along with both Luzon Boobook and Philippine Scops Owl.

Overnight: Subic Bay, Luzon

Day 15. Subic Bay to Manila and flight to Puerto Princesa (Palawan)

We will have a final birding session at Subic Bay followed by an early lunch. Afterwards we will drive back to Manila where we will then take our flight to Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

The island of Palawan is the largest island in the archipelagic province of the same name, in the west of the Philippines. The 1,780 islands of this province stretch from the center of the Philippines (Mindoro), in the northeast, down to the Malaysian state of Sabah, in Borneo, in the southwest. Our time will be spent birding on Palawan Island, which measures 280 miles (450 kilometers) long and 31 miles (50 kilometers) wide. The island is scenically spectacular and has been voted “Most Beautiful Island in the World” multiple times, it is also incredibly biodiverse and we will get a great appreciation of this during our tour. Biogeographically, Palawan is part of Sundaland, therefore the flora and fauna is more akin to that found in Borneo, rather than the rest of the Philippines.

There are numerous great birding sites on Palawan and we will enjoy the majority of these over the coming days, seeking out as many special birds as we can. If time allows after our arrival we may be able to look for Red-vented (Philippine) Cockatoos as they come to roost.

Overnight: Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Red-vented (Philippine) Cockatoo, like many parrots in this part of the world, is classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN.

Day 16 – 17. Palawan birding

We will spend two full days birding around Puerto Princesa in search of the many rare and interesting bird species found on Palawan, with special emphasis on finding as many endemics as we can. Our first birding site will be at a new bird blind (bird hide) where Palawan Peacock-Pheasant appears to have recently become habituated. If we are successful in seeing these birds, particularly should a male appear, this will surely rate as a major tour highlight.

We hope to see the incredibly rare Palawan Peacock-Pheasant (photo Harry Ramm).

Our birding on Palawan over these two full days will take in a range of exciting sites, each chosen to provide good chances for a range of endemic and special birds. Some of the targets here will include Blue-headed Racket-tail, Red-vented (Philippine) Cockatoo, Black-chinned Fruit Dove, Palawan Hornbill, Philippine Pitta (propinqua subspecies), Hooded Pitta (resident palawanensis subspecies), Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher, Spot-throated Flameback, Red-headed Flameback, Blue Paradise Flycatcher, Palawan Crow, Palawan (Grey-throated) Bulbul, Sulphur-bellied Bulbul, Palawan Blue Flycatcher, Palawan Flycatcher, Falcated Wren-Babbler, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler (distinct woodi subspecies), Melodious (Palawan) Babbler, White-vented Shama, Palawan Tit, Yellow-throated Leafbird, and Palawan Flowerpecker.

An endemic subspecies of Philippine Pitta can be found while birding on Palawan Island.

Another potential site to visit near our base is the well-known Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, Puerto Princesa, where we could find the endemic Pale Spiderhunter, along with a mix of other endemic and more widespread species including Palawan Hornbill, Ashy-headed Babbler, Melodious (Palawan) Babbler, Nankeen Night Heron, (Philippine) Black-naped Oriole, Black-naped Monarch, Palawan (Grey-throated) Bulbul, Fiery Minivet, Common Hill Myna, Lovely Sunbird, and Purple-throated Sunbird. At night we will look for Palawan Frogmouth, Palawan Scops Owl, and Mantanani Scops Owl.

Overnight (two further nights): Puerto Princesa, Palawan

The rare endemic Palawan Flycatcher can be found lurking in the dark undergrowth here.

Day 18. Palawan morning birding, afternoon flight to Manila (Luzon), where tour concludes

After a final morning birding on Palawan looking for the birds mentioned for Days 16 and 17, we will take an afternoon flight back to Manila, where this exciting Philippine birding tour will conclude. We anticipate returning to Manila around 17:00 hrs., which would allow for late evening international flights out of Manila (most international flights depart Manila after 22:00 hrs.). Please liaise with us prior to booking your flight tickets.

Overnight: Not included

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes have to use a different guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling or other factors.

Birding The Philippines: Philippine Endemic Birds Galore

General Information

OUR PHILIPPINES BIRDING TOUR

This small-group Philippines birding tour focuses on the endemic birds found on three of the Philippine islands: Luzon, Mindanao, and Palawan, as well as key over-wintering specials. Top tour targets include Palawan Peacock-Pheasant, Philippine Eagle, Japanese Night Heron, Chinese Crested Tern, Ashy Thrush, and a whole host of other great birds.

This Philippines birding tour starts and ends in Manila.

ITINERARY AND SPECIES RECORDING (BIRD LISTS AND ANIMAL LISTS)

Ahead of our Philippines birdwatching tour, we will send you a detailed daily itinerary (along with arrival instructions). We will then provide you with a printed copy of the itinerary on the first day of the tour.

The printed copy of the itinerary will include a bird list and list of other animals possible on the tour and we will go through this each night (but it is totally optional whether you join or not – though it is considered extremely useful). While birding during the tour we will create eBird checklists and these will be shared with any participants who wish to have a copy. Just provide us with your eBird user details at the beginning of the tour for us to do this.

Each evening, we will go through the itinerary to give you any specific information to be aware of for the following day (like what clothes and equipment will be needed, when we will be having breakfast, departure time from the hotel, and any important birds we will be looking for, etc.). This is a good time for you to ask us any questions you may have for the day ahead.

After the completion of the tour, we will email you a PDF copy of an illustrated trip report. This will include a complete checklist of all wildlife recorded during the tour. Any interesting bird, animal, or landscape photographs will be included in the PDF trip report. We will also convert the eBird checklists into an eBird trip report.

DAILY ACTIVITIES, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, AND TOUR PACE

This is a birding-focused tour that does offer some occasional good incidental photo opportunities, though these are secondary to the actual birding element of the tour. Finding and seeing well the many endemic and near-endemic species and subspecies of the Philippines, as well as overwintering specialties, will be considered the priority.

The majority of the walking during our Philippines birding tour is considered easy to moderate, though heat and humidity in some locations can increase tiredness and care should be taken to remain hydrated at all times. There are a couple of optional, harder walks at Mount Kitanglad.

If you do want to sit out a birding session during the tour, there are opportunities to hang back at our accommodation for some more relaxed birding or photography at several locations. We will spend the majority of our time birding on easy to moderate trails and roadsides, at a range of elevations, and will experience warm/hot and humid (sometimes wet) conditions throughout. Though you should expect cooler temperatures in the mountains.

To get to our accommodation at Mount Kitanglad, it takes about an hour and a half of walking, approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers), and our luggage goes up by horse. If it has been wet it can be slippery in places. The first section of the hike has a river crossing, usually shallow and can be crossed from rock-to-rock, but after heavy rain there is a bamboo bridge to cross.  Walking up to the Philippine Eagle viewpoint takes an hour and a half, but might take longer going at birding pace (though the onus will be to get to the viewpoint and focus on seeing the eagle in the first instance). This hike can be demanding in some circumstances as the trail gets very slippery after rain. Beyond the eagle viewpoint, the hike further up the mountain for Apo Sunbird is uphill for around two further hours (excluding birding stops), but is a more straightforward hike.

Most of the drives between different sites are two to three hours, but there are also a couple of drives that are around the four- to five-hour mark. There are a couple of long, rough, and potentially dusty jeep rides on this tour. We will be taking several domestic flights during the tour, see the “Domestic Flights” section below.

PASSPORT, VISA, LOCAL LAWS, AND CUSTOMS

Visitors to the Philippines from many countries (e.g. UK, US, Canada, Australia, South Africa) for 30 days of tourism do not currently require a visa. However, please check this official government website for the latest details. There is a box where you can input your nationality and it will tell you whether you need to apply for a visa or not. If you do need a visa, you can complete the visa application process as required. To enter the country your passport must have an expiration date at least six months after the date you arrive.

You must register your visit on the e-travel system within the 72 hours before your arrival in the Philippines (during which you will generate a QR code that you must show at various times). Some airlines will not allow you to board your flight to the Philippines if you cannot show the QR code. This registration is free. If a website is asking you to pay, it is a scam, so beware!

Most visitors are required to show proof of onward travel and immigration personnel or airline staff may request to see this.

You may be required to pay an airport departure tax. This rule changes frequently and without warning, so check with your airline.

You must always carry your passport or a printed copy of the photo page as an official form of identification in case police request to check your identification.

Please check your own government’s advice on visiting the Philippines. The above is only a guide and can change without our knowledge.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

As detailed in our standard Terms and Conditions, we strongly encourage you to have comprehensive trip cancellation insurance to protect against unexpected events that might cause delays and interruptions to travel. It is important that the insurance covers illness, medical issues, accidents, repatriation, loss of luggage or any valuable items that you might be bringing (e.g. optical and camera equipment) etc.

HEALTH AND PESTS

We recommend you consult your doctor or local travel clinic, regarding vaccine requirements, approximately two months prior to your bird tour, so that any required vaccine courses can be completed in time for your departure.

There is no risk of Yellow Fever in the Philippines, however there is a certificate requirement for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission (or have transited for more than 12 hours through one). The certificate for Yellow Fever is now valid for life, rather than 10 years, as was considered to apply pre-2016. Please refer to the World Health Organization’s list of countries where Yellow Fever transmission is possible, here.

Everyone visiting the Philippines should be up to date with standard vaccinations and boosters, like Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Chickenpox (Varicella), Flu, Covid-19, Polio, Shingles, and Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR). Other vaccinations that might be required (depending on your personal situation, and to be confirmed by your travel clinic/doctor), include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Chikungunya, Cholera, Dengue, Typhoid, and Rabies. Airborne and droplet transmitted diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB) are present.

There is a risk of insect or tick-borne diseases in some areas of South Asia and in the Philippines, this includes diseases such as Chikungunya, Leishmaniasis, and Scrub Typhus (from Chiggers). There is a low risk of Malaria in the Philippines and Zika Virus (from diurnal mosquitos) is also present. To prevent mosquito bites, we recommend wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, treat clothes with repellents like permethrin or use permethrin-treated clothing (such as Buzz Off), and use an EPA-registered mosquito repellent containing DEET. Some governments may advise you to take antimalarial drugs, so we recommend contacting a specialist ahead of the tour. Additionally, Schistosomiasis (a parasitic infection caused by the infected Schistosoma snail larvae) and Leptospirosis (from animal urine in water) are present in contaminated freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes and cases can spread during periods of flooding.

Please refer to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website here, for further information on vaccines and how to stay healthy on the tour. Another great source of data is the “Travel Health Pro” website, and information on the Philippines can be seen here. All three linked webpages, and any others from your home government, are worth studying ahead of joining our tour.

Poor air quality is a significant public health problem in many parts of the world, and we can experience areas of poor air quality, usually when in (but not limited to) cities. Exposure to high levels of air pollution over short time periods (e.g. minutes/hours/days) is linked to many different acute and chronic health problems. These effects are mainly on the respiratory (lungs and airways) and cardiovascular (heart function and blood circulation) systems.

Tap water is not potable in the Philippines and you should not drink water from taps, as you can get ill (e.g. traveler’s diarrhea) and this will likely ruin a portion of your bird tour. We will be providing mineral water from our tour vehicle supply, please bring a refillable water bottle to maintain your own supply.

If you pick up any scratches from plants (see the “Dangerous Animals and Plants” section below) or receive any bites from insects, they should be cleaned, treated with antiseptic cream/wipes, and covered quickly to reduce the chance of any infection (especially important if you enter water that could potentially harbor the diseases discussed above).

Sunscreen (rated SPF 30+) should be used frequently, and a sunhat should be worn to protect from the sun’s powerful rays, with sunglasses used to help prevent glare. A plentiful intake of water is essential to maintain hydration.

There is a risk of altitude sickness when traveling to elevations of 8,200 feet (2,500 meters), however we won’t be going above this elevation on our tour.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

It is very important that you are suitably covered with comprehensive medical insurance in the instance of any emergency situation while on our Philippines bird tour. Medical facilities in the Philippines are likely to be of a lower quality than you are used to at home. Emergency medical treatment outside main cities is not readily available, and you may have to be brought to Manila for treatment. Treatment in private hospitals can be expensive and the options for repatriation to your home or a neighboring country in an emergency are limited and very expensive. If you don’t have insurance, the cost for medical care is likely to be very high.

As detailed in our standard Terms and Conditions, we require you to tell us when signing up for our Philippines birdwatching tour of any medical conditions that we should be aware of. Please tell us if you have any walking/mobility (including stability) issues, diabetes, epilepsy, food and medicinal allergies, heart conditions, and long-term illnesses etc. This will make things easier for us, and you, in case an unexpected situation arises.

CRIME AND SAFETY

The Philippines is generally considered to be a relatively safe country to visit, with many very friendly people. That said, there are high levels of street crime and robbery, sometimes involving weapons and firearms. These crimes usually occur in, but are not limited to, urban areas and cities (like Manila). You should take more precautions than you would at home. Place valuables in a secure place, such as a hotel safe, when you can, and keep belongings in sight when traveling or in crowded areas (e.g. airports). Remain vigilant of your surroundings at all times.

If you are traveling in taxis prior to or after the tour, only use taxis from reputable companies, such as Grab. We do not recommend taking regular taxis as you are highly likely to get scammed and potentially robbed.

Terrorist attacks in parts of the Philippines cannot be ruled out, avoid crowded public places, large gatherings, and demonstrations. Possible targets could also include hotels, tourist sites, and places of worship. Please refer to information from your own government, such as Australia, the UK, the USA, etc.

Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common, including in Manila. Be careful in crowded and public locations. Wear a body belt for safekeeping of documents. Bank card fraud is common. Fraudsters can steal your card details without you noticing. Use ATMs inside banks or hotels where possible, and check ATMs on the street for signs of tampering. Keep cards in sight when paying in shops and restaurants.

Only drink branded and sealed drinks. Methanol poisoning can occur from poor quality alcohol production. Be aware of drink spiking in bars.

The Philippines is prone to natural disasters and extreme weather, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and typhoons. Guidance for how to prepare for, and what to do if you are affected by these is here.

DANGEROUS ANIMALS AND PLANTS

There are dangerous animals in the Philippines, such as venomous snakes (such as Philippine Cobra, King Cobra, and various kraits and pit vipers) and hazardous marine life (such as Saltwater Crocodile, Box Jellyfish, and Stonefish). However, mosquitoes and stray dogs pose a statistically greater risk to humans.

Special mention should be made of Leeches, which occur throughout the Philippines, where they are particularly abundant in damp environments. Leeches are an annoyance rather than being a real health issue, though we know no one likes them! Insect repellent (particularly citronella) sprayed on shoes and ankles can help to keep them at bay, as well as being great for reducing issues with other annoying creatures, such as ticks, mosquitoes, and chiggers. Leech socks might also come in useful (such as Purple Turtle brand) and are usually available online. Saltwater spray can also deter leeches. It is a good idea to have some salt packets as well, as it can be an effective way to remove a leech if it attaches to your skin.

There are several poisonous and irritant plants in the Philippines, and some plants may be protected by fierce-looking spikes, so we recommend being careful about where you put your hands and arms if moving through vegetation. Wearing long sleeves, long hiking pants, and even leech socks reduces the threat of accidentally brushing irritant plants and this is also a good way to reduce insect/leech bites too.

FOOD, DRINKS, AND MEALS

Filipino cuisine is a vibrant mix of indigenous Austronesian traditions with Chinese, Spanish, Malay, and American influences. Traditional Filipino cooking relies heavily on pork, chicken, and seafood. Meals center around rice, bold flavor pairings (e.g. sweet, sour, salty, and spicy) and dipping sauces, called sawsawan. Adobo is considered the national dish and is usually chicken or pork braised in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and peppercorns. Other local dishes include sinigang, lechon, sisig, kare-kare, lumpia, pancit, and pandesal. See here for more information.

A variety of typical Filipino food is the main type of food to be expected on this tour, with some western menu options likely in some places. Finding vegetarian or vegan food in the Philippines is moderately challenging overall, though it is getting easier in major cities and tourist hubs. Dishes labeled as vegetarian frequently contain fish sauce (patis), shrimp paste (bagoong), oyster sauce, or meat/bouillon cubes (Magic Sarap). The concept of a strict vegetarian or vegan diet is not always well understood. We cannot guarantee we can provide vegetarian/vegan food throughout this tour. We recommend writing down any dietary restrictions you may have clearly in Tagalog for translation purposes.

Fresh fruit will be available at most places. Due to the lack of refrigeration, dairy products are not common.

Tap water is not potable in the Philippines, and you should not drink water from taps, since you can get sick. Tea and coffee are widely available, but if you have strong preferences about your tea/coffee you’d be advised to bring your own. Alcoholic drinks are available in most places and beer is often cheaper than water!

CURRENCY, MONEY, AND TIPPING

The Philippine peso (PHP / “₱”) is the currency of the Philippines (also known locally as piso). It is subdivided into 100 sentimo, also called centavos (¢).

Banknotes can be found in the following denominations: ₱20, ₱50, ₱100, ₱200, ₱500, and ₱1,000. Coins are available for 1¢, 5¢, 25¢, 10¢, ₱1, ₱5, ₱10, ₱20. It will likely be best to buy Philippine pesos at the airport or use an ATM at the airport to withdraw cash. Some of the larger towns/cities we are likely to pass through/visit should have ATMs for withdrawing cash, though there is always a chance these are broken or won’t accept your international card. Mastercard and Visa are often accepted at larger establishments, but American Express is less widely accepted. You may struggle to make card payments in rural areas, so cash is useful for incidental purchases in these areas, where cards may not be accepted. It is best to exchange currency at authorized dealers in the airport, banks, or hotels to avoid counterfeit notes. Always ask for a receipt after exchanging money.

Tipping is not strictly required or expected in the Philippines, but is becoming increasingly common in more touristic areas (such as on Palawan), and is certainly always appreciated. The tipping culture is very relaxed. You will never be viewed poorly for not leaving a tip, but a small token goes a long way for service workers who often earn modest wages.

ACCOMMODATION

The accommodation on this tour is of a reasonable but variable standard, with electricity throughout, with the exception of our three nights in tents at Del Monte Lodge on Mount Kitanglad which is considered very basic accommodation and is without electricity or private bathroom facilities (there is cold running water and three flushing toilets) and it is possible to get buckets of hot water for a bucket shower after full days at the lodge. At the lodge each tent has a foam mattress, pillow, blanket, sleeping bag, and towel. The camp is at 4,400 feet (1,350 meters) elevation. If you would like more information on staying at Del Monte Lodge, please let us know. While the accommodation is basic here, it does allow us the only realistic opportunity for looking for Philippine Eagle, so worth the temporary discomfort.

The facilities at the Paper Country Inn, in the town of Bislig for accessing PICOP are also rather basic, but not as basic as Del Monte Lodge.

Most of the accommodation has air conditioning (those in the mountains don’t really need it), or fans. Some of the accommodation, such as that in Manila and on Palawan, is of a higher, more international standard. The Philippines is a poor country and accommodation is not of the same standard as you might expect from hotels or accommodation at home. Some accommodation we stay in is the only accommodation within the vicinity of the birding areas we are visiting and so choice is somewhat limited.

 ELECTRICITY

In the Philippines, the power plugs and sockets (outlets) are of Type A, Type B, and Type C. The standard voltage is 220 volts (V), and the standard frequency is 60 hertz (Hz). Further details and photos of these plugs and sockets, and information on the electricity supply in the Philippines can be found here. This link also allows you to type in your home country and will tell you if you will need to bring a travel adapter and / or a voltage converter, as well as tell you if you need to consider frequency differences.

All places we stay on our tour, with the exception of our three nights at Del Monte Lodge on Mount Kitanglad, should have electricity 24 hours a day, unless there is an unexpected power outage, such as the result of a storm or other unforeseen circumstance. For our time at Del Monte Lodge you will require a power bank and extra batteries, should you wish to keep personal items such as cell phones and cameras charged.

COMMUNICATIONS

The phone signal across the Philippines is reasonably good, with the exception of at Mount Kitanglad, where you should bank on being offline during our visit. Our accommodation in towns/cities is likely to have better signal than more rural places. Globe and Smart are the largest and best-performing local networks across the country. It is possible to purchase a local SIM card on arrival in the Philippines, and most likely simply done at the airport. SIM card registration is mandatory. You will need a valid government ID (or passport) and a selfie to activate a local physical SIM or eSIM. An eSIM might also be simpler to arrange and set up. Information on phones and SIM cards in the Philippines can be found here. Some of the places we stay on this tour will have Wi-Fi.

TRANSPORTATION

We will use air-conditioned minibuses/vans on this tour for moving between our overnight destinations and most of our birding sites. In order to get to Del Monte Lodge on Mount Kitanglad we will transfer into 4×4 vehicles for a short period to take us higher up the mountain (before we need to hike 1 – 2 hours to our accommodation). Our birding at this site will be on foot. We will take several domestic flights on this tour. Please see the “Domestic Flights” section below. We will use speedboats to get to a small island near Palawan to look for Mantanani Scops Owl.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

There are usually four domestic flights required for this tour. These flights are with local providers such as Cebu Pacific and Air Asia. We will expect to have 15 pounds (7 kilograms) of carry-on baggage (plus a small personal item, such as a laptop bag) and 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of checked baggage for these flights. We will confirm exact details once tickets are booked as these amounts may vary depending on carriers. Flight schedules are subject to frequent change, often at the last minute and these changes are obviously out of our control. We recommend booking your international flight for after 22:00 hrs. on the final day of the tour (or safer still, the following day), but please do liaise with us prior to purchasing your international flights. Please also only book your flights once we have confirmed with you that the tour is a confirmed departure.

WEATHER/CLIMATE   

The islands in the Philippines cover a huge area and our tour visits three islands, Luzon in the north, Mindanao in the south, and Palawan in the west. As such the weather conditions can vary substantially between the different islands. We will also be covering a range of elevations which further influence the weather conditions. Traditionally, the expected weather during our tour period is influenced by the northeast monsoon (Amihan). This brings cooler, relatively drier conditions to most of the northern parts of the country, while eastern and southern regions experience more variable, even wet conditions. During the tour we can expect the following:

• Luzon: Generally cooler and drier than other times of the year (but still likely considered hot for most people from northern latitude countries). Daytime highs average around 82^oF to 88^oF (28^oC to 31^oC) with overnight temperatures dropping to 75^oF to 77^oF (24^oC to 25^oC). In higher elevation areas, such as at Infanta Road we can expect slightly cooler conditions, particularly overnight. We expect low rainfall and mostly clear skies, though brief localized showers are still possible.
• Mindanao: Potentially wetter than Luzon (and Palawan) during the tour period. It is consistently warm and humid, with average high temperatures of 84^oF to 88^oF (29^oC to 31^oC), with nighttime temperatures dropping to 75^oF (24^oC). Note that while at the higher elevations of Del Monte Lodge on Mount Kitanglad, we can expect lower temperatures, such as 50^oF (10^oC) overnight and 59^oF to 68^oF (15^oC to 20^oC).
• Palawan: Should be dry, warm, sunny, and quite pleasant. Daytime highs of 84^oF to 86^oF (29^oC to 30^oC) and nighttime lows of 73^oF to 77^oF (23^oC to 25^oC).

The sun is still strong (and some places, particularly Palawan and eastern Mindanao can be humid) at this time of year, and care should be taken to remain hydrated, and use sun protection.

LUGGAGE

Please pack as lightly as possible for this tour. A medium, soft-sided, and robust duffel bag is likely to work best for packing in the tour vehicles. We recommend a daypack be used to keep items that you wish to use daily when in the vehicle, or when birding in the field. We usually return to the same hotel near Manila airport a few times during the tour, if you would rather leave some luggage there. A smaller bag for our time up at Del Monte Lodge is advisable, with remaining luggage stored in a secure place at the lodge owner’s home.

WHAT TO BRING: CLOTHING AND RELATED ITEMS

We recommend that you bring a selection of loose and lightweight field clothing with green, brown, or dark colors, as these work best for forest birding (which we will be doing for the majority of our tours in the region). Please avoid bright/pale colors, for example no white, red, orange etc. outer clothing layers during birding time. Casual and informal dress is appropriate for the hotels/accommodation we use.

We highly recommend trousers/long pants and long-sleeved shirts (these can be rolled up should you get too hot) for all birding activities, given the potential leech and insect issues (and the strong tropical sun). A selection of clothes is useful, as you are likely to get hot and sweaty in some locations. You should also bring some warmer clothes, as we will spend some time birding at higher elevations, where nighttime temperatures could drop, and still be cool when we start our birding. Rain is always a possibility, so light rain gear (including a small umbrella) is always worth having in your daypack. Leeches also enjoy damp conditions. Sunglasses, sunhat, and sunscreen (rated SPF 30 or higher) are considered essential.

Lightweight hiking boots are recommended for the tour, as they give extra ankle support while walking (necessary given some of the trails we will be birding on) and added protection against animal stings/bites. A pair of sandals (flip-flops) or sneakers/trainers (tennis shoes) can be useful for when in vehicles and when walking between your room and restaurant in the hotels. Rubber boots are not considered necessary in normal conditions on this tour.

WHAT TO BRING: OTHER ITEMS

Do not forget: Binoculars, camera, field guide (see “Books” section below), flashlight (torch), spare batteries, power bank, converter plugs, plug adapters, chargers, prescription drugs (please bring the generic names for these drugs with you, and take note of the information on what is and isn’t allowed to be brought into the Philippines), toiletries, prescription glasses (and a spare pair), insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, alarm clock, money pouch, hiking poles/walking sticks, suggested medical kit (see here), water bottle, and daypack.

Our tour leader/local guide will have a communal telescope for use during the tour. This will be particularly useful while searching for species such as Philippine Eagle, Chinese Crested Tern, and waterbirds. The communal scope will allow everyone opportunities to look at birds briefly on a rotation basis. If you like to “digi-scope/phone-scope”, or you would like to take prolonged scope views of the birds, please bring your own scope for that, the communal scope will be for everyone to look at the birds, but not for photography.

Some additional items to remember include important travel documents, passport, cash (or ATM/credit cards to withdraw money), proof of vaccinations, and your travel or health insurance cards – photocopies of all can be carried by the tour leader in case of emergency.

We recommend bringing a couple of different colored pens, together with a 12-inch/30-centimeter plastic ruler. These can make the checklist session easier to follow.

A hiking pole or walking stick is helpful on the tracks and trails. A walking stick is compulsory for anyone who is unsteady walking, we feel this is a safety issue; we don’t want anyone slipping on the trails or anywhere else.

A dry bag will be useful for optics and important documentation, in case of rain.

LANGUAGE

Filipino is designated as the official language in the Philippines and it is based primarily on Tagalog as spoken in Metro Manila, with vocabulary and influences drawn from other regional Philippine languages. English is the second official language. Millions of Filipinos speak regional native tongues, such as Cebuano (Bisaya), Ilocano, Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), Waray, Kapampangan, Bikol, Pangasinan, and Tausug.

BOOKS

Birds of the Philippines – Desmond Allen (2020), Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides. We recommend this paperback for your Philippines bird tour.

Please take a look at our recommended field guide blog for additional information on this region. Some of the other bird books relevant to the Philippines include:

A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines – Robert Kennedy, Pedro C. Gonzales, Edward Dickinson, Hector Miranda, and T. Fisher (2000). Oxford University Press.

Birds of the Philippines, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, Sulawesi, the Lesser Sundas, and the Moluccas – Norman Arlott (2018). William Collins (HarperCollins imprint).

A Naturalist’s Guide to the Birds of the Philippines – Maia Tañedo, Adrian Constantino, Trinket Constantino, and Robert Hutchinson (2026). John Beaufoy Publishing.

Bloomsbury Pocket Photo Guides: Birds of the Philippines – Tim Fisher and Nigel Hicks (2020). Helm.

Other specific-interest books, such as those covering reptiles, mammals, and other aspects of natural history, etc.:

A Naturalist’s Guide to the Reptiles of the Philippines – Emerson Y. Sy (2023). John Beaufoy Publishing.

A Naturalist’s Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) – Chris R. Shepherd and Loretta Ann Shepherd (2024). John Beaufoy Publishing.

A Naturalist’s Guide to the Butterflies of the Philippines – Jade Aster T. Badon (2023). John Beaufoy Publishing.

Field Guide to the Butterflies of The Philippines – Peter B. Hardy and James M. Lawrence (2017). Siri Scientific Press.

Wild Philippines: The Landscapes, Habitats, and Wildlife of the Philippine Islands – Nigel Hicks (2026). John Beaufoy Publishing.

Fishes of the Philippines – Genevieve Broad (2003). Anvil Publishing Inc.

A Guide to the Dendrobium of the Philippines – Jim Cootes and George Tiong (2015). Natural History Publications Borneo.

Coral Reefs Philippines: Reef ID Books – Andrey S. Ryanskiy (2018). Andrey S. Ryanskiy.

SOUND RECORDINGS

You can listen to and download a range of bird calls and songs from the Philippines on the excellent xeno-canto bird sound library. Additional recordings may be found on eBird species accounts, Birds of the World, and some of the apps referenced below.

USEFUL WEBSITE RESOURCES AND APPS

Bird Call Xeno – this app allows you to download a good selection of bird songs from the xeno-canto website onto your smartphone.

eBird/Merlin – loads of information that is easy to gather on your smartphone or other devices such as tablets and computers. Sound, photo, and video galleries exist for almost every species in the Philippines, via the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library. We recommend downloading the Philippines data pack.

Lonely Planet – contains lots of general travel information on the Philippines, though some of the places we will be going to are not likely to be mentioned. If you are interested in extending your stay in the Philippines before or after the tour, this will help you find some must-see places.

Download Philippines General Information