The Philippine shortwing (Brachypteryx poliogyna) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where it favours montane forest. It was once conspecific with the White-browed Shortwing.

Philippine shortwing
Male ssp. andersoni on Mount Banahaw, Luzon
Immature ssp mindanensis on Mount Hamiguitan, Mindanao
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Brachypteryx
Species:
B. poliogyna
Binomial name
Brachypteryx poliogyna

Description and taxonomy

edit

Ebird describes the celestial monarch as "A small, dark songster of montane rainforest floor and undergrowth in the Philippines. Male is overall dark, blue-gray with an indistinct, often concealed white eyebrow. Female has a dark gray body with a paler belly, and brown head and base to the undertail. Forages on the ground of various types of forest, including bamboo, fern, and mossy forest. Song is an up-and-down melody of long whistles, broken into short separate notes. Call, a repeated, soft double-note “biirrick!”[2]

This species was formerly considered as subspecies of the white-browed shortwing, now the Javan shortwing (Brachypteryx montana). The white-browed shortwing was split into five separate species based on the deep genetic difference between the populations[3][4] coupled with the significant differences in plumage and vocalization.[5][6]

Subspecies

edit

Seven subspecies are recognised:[6]

There is also an undescribed subspecies on South Cotabato which call is very different and is only found 800-1,000 masl. The higher elevation Mindanao subspecies group are candidates for a further splitting due to a very different calls compared to both its mid-elevation counterpart and the rest of the Philippines. Further work is needed on the taxonomy of this species complex.

The diet of consists of insects. [7]

Habitat and conservation status

edit

Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest above 600 meters above sea level.

IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species but the population is still decreasing due to deforestation. [8]

References

edit
  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Brachypteryx poliogyna". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T103866625A104214201. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103866625A104214201.en. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Philippine Shortwing - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  3. ^ Kyriazis, C.C.; Alam, B.; Wjodyla, M.; Hackett, S.; Hosner, P.; Mays, H.L.; Heaney, L.R.; Reddy, S. (2018). "Colonization and diversification of the white-browed shortwing (Aves: Muscicapidae: Brachypteryx montana) in the Philippines". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 121: 121–131. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.12.025.
  4. ^ Shakya, S.B.; Irham, M.; Brady, M.L.; Haryoko, T.; Fitriana, Y.S.; Johnson, O.; Rahman, M.A.; Robi, N.J.; Moyle, R.G.; Prawiradilaga, D.M.; Sheldon, F.H. (2020). "Observations on the relationships of some Sundaic passerine taxa (Aves: Passeriformes) previously unavailable for molecular phylogenetic study". Journal of Ornithology. 161 (3): 651–664. doi:10.1007/s10336-020-01766-9.
  5. ^ Collar, N.; del Hoyo, J.; Christie, D.A.; Boesman, P.F.D. (2022). Sly, N.D. (ed.). "Philippine Shortwing (Brachypteryx poliogyna), version 1.0". Birds of the World. Ithaca, NY, USA: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.whbsho7.01.
  6. ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2023). "Chats, Old World flycatchers". IOC World Bird List Version 13.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  7. ^ Collar, Nigel; del Hoyo, Josep; Christie, David; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2022). "Philippine Shortwing (Brachypteryx poliogyna), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.whbsho7.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
  8. ^ IUCN (2016-10-01). Brachypteryx poliogyna: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T103866625A104214201 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t103866625a104214201.en.