Birds of the Philippines

[Pao Dolina]

View attachment 9875​

Pao,

This fascinating fellow looks so well fed! What creatures eat it?

Asher

Asher,

Thank you for asking.

I never thought about who eats the hornbill as apex predators have been hunted by farmers defending their poultry from harm.


Immature Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis) by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

 

[Asher Kelman]

Having it in action is great. What’s it got, honey or a cake?

Asher

 

[Pao Dolina]

Having it in action is great. What’s it got, honey or a cake?

Asher

Thank you Asher.

He's eating the fruit of a Ficus benjamina.


Ashy-Fronted Bulbul (Pycnonotus cinereifrons) by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

 

[Pao Dolina]

Thank you Winston and Asher.


Philippine Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis holospilus) by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

 

[Pao Dolina]

Thank you Asher


Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

This is the national bird of the Philippines

 

[Asher Kelman]

Pao,

Superb portrait of thr bird!

This is one gloriously beaked eagle! Most impressive metal looking beak I have seen!

Asher

 

[Pao Dolina]

Thank you Asher!


Wandering Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata) by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

If I were to redo this shot

- ISO 2,500
- f/6.3
- 1/125

I'd also lower down the tripod some more so the background isn't the water but the other side of the pond

 

[Pao Dolina]

Grey Heron (Ardea cinera) by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

 

[Pao Dolina]

Olive-backed Sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

Thanks Winston and Asher

 

[Pao Dolina]

Thank you Asher



Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

I fllew a total distance of 565.38 km (351.31 mi) to take a photo of a bird I see 5 meters away daily.

 

[Pao Dolina]

Thank you Asher.


Philippine Pied Fantail (Rhipidura nigritorquis) by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

 

[Pao Dolina]

scaly-breasted munia (Lonchura punctulata), by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

 

[Pao Dolina]

Grey-throated sunbird (Anthreptes griseigularis) by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr

 

[Asher Kelman]

Remarkably differently engineered beaks!

The scaly breasted mulia have massive structures I guess for crushing things whereas the song bird has a long delicate beak for small insects and nectar, perhaps!

Yet, I’m on a genome level there might be simply duplication of sections of DNA or some minor modifications teasing out these differences. This to me is so fascinating.

As long as there is a varied niche to feed in, birds will adapt their anatomy and behavior to thrive there.

Imagine, this amazing propensity is already present once organic chemicals form in ocean hot springs!

That to me is mind boggling!

Asher

 

[Pao Dolina]

Thank you Asher.


Philippine Duck (Anas luzonica) by Paolo Dolina, on Flickr