Birding Basics: Common Urban Birds

Our cities are home to diverse bird species. How many have you seen?
A collection of common birds you may encounter in urban Metro Manila and most other cities in the Philippines. Videos and bird sounds recorded in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Video created for the 14th Philippine Birdtual Festival held last October 2021.

[@jenylanuza3908]

I grew up vacationing in my Lola’s coconut farm in Mindoro’s remote, jungly area. Among the hundreds of beautiful birdsongs I’d been hearing daily, there’s one that stuck with me that I still vividly remember. By watching your video, I discovered that the bird is a Black-naped Oriole. And wow, the physical beauty did justice to the music.

[@iamjoneeyc8203]

I just got interested in birds when i bought bird feeder and only wanted to feed the mayas. I was happy to see other species slowly turning in. I wanted to check their species so i searched and google got me to your video. Thank you for your video! I am so happy! More power!

[@birdingphilippines]

Thank you and keep on birding!

[@omai198]

so happy that this video exists! ive been trying to find that one specific bird call ive been hearing every morning since childhood. im happy to finally know its name (the gerygone / pipit!) thank you for this lovely video!

[@magenta7006]

I am so proud of you, I thought most Filipinos just shoot birds to eat or sell in the market. This is a high level of living, appreciating nature/birds. I just started the hobby of birding here in Washington state. I have a feeder that attracts black capped juncos and chickadees. I also have a birdhouse that I made from recycled picket fence that produced 4 chickadees this summer. Thanks for sharing the different birds in the Phlipppines. I know they can be found also in the rural areas. I am impressed with your photo equipment/swarovski. Your hobby cannot be adapted by regular Fillipinos. MOney to be spent on foods first. Thanks again.

[@ermynermitanio9361]

I am new to birding. Yung black-naped oriole ang aking spark bird. I saw one here in Visayas avenue, Quezon City. After that saka ko napansin na madami plang birds kahit dito sa city. You just need take time to look around and enjoy. Nakak relax din. Thank you for this video. Nag enjoy po ako. 😊

[@giovaniznapenas]

Araw-araw simula nung covid pandemic lockdown, na observe ko na may pair of ibong pipit na limiligidligid sa mga halamanan sa mga kapit bahay. Akala ko rare yang ibon na yan since dalawa lang silang nakikita ko. It turns out, according to this video, eh common urban bird pala sila. Back then, I used to live in a subdivision in Tala Caloocan. I still see them when I visited a few days ago.

[@user-ii4nw1hn5y]

I always hear the sound of the collared kingfisher within our neighborhood and never would have thought that it came from a kingfisher. Thank you so much for showing this! 💕

[@angielicacabugsa8810]

I like how this video is 2 in 1, healing and informative at the same time 💖🤌 thanks for sharing this maam/sir 😀

[@Lalt]

Mabuhay kayo!!! 🙏🏼 ganito ang content that is worth watching here on youtube. 😘💚

[@birdingphilippines]

Maraming salamat po!

[@keysonthego3663]

Thank you so much for this, it's good to learn the name of the common birds around NCR. Thank you for the effort, keep it up.

[@fauna2836]

I'm living in Bataan and I'm watching this coz there's this big bird that has been roaming around our area yesterday and I want to know what bird that is. We love our trees and is surrounded by lots of it. Through this video, I found the names of the birds I've seen and heard around our home. The Olive-backed Sunbird is one of those na lagi kong nakikita, the Phil Pied Fantail too, na laging nasa babuyan namin. Every morning when I feed the chickens and our pigeons, the Mayas also eat with them. There's a lot of other birds na lagi kong nakikita and I'm glad na I know their names na. Phil Pygmy Woodpecker Collared Kingfisher Golden-bellied Gerygone Every night, may bat naman sa 2nd floor namin because it's an open area. It hangs up there, eating guavas na nakuha nya from our tree. It's nice to have this kind of video of our beautiful birds. Sadly, that big bird is not here.

[@the28thofjuly]

i just noticed that the subtitles are bilingual!!! i love it ❤ great video!

[@rehandhala7178]

Brief but excellent with ID tips and behavior thrown in. Shows the value of looking around even in an urban environment . Thanks

[@MsLacieable]

Zebra Dove pala yung lagi ko naririnig sa probinsya iniisip ko anong ibon ba yun ang ingay lagi 😂

[@saberkite]

Ah, Coppersmith Barbet pala yun may beeping sound. I hear a lot of these birds at our house. So nice to have an idea of what they are and what they look like.

[@kateriist1]

Wonderful. Puede band dagdagan ito ng iba pang lugar at iband bird species. Maraming salamat po.

[@carlomacaventa2467]

Very nice and informative video. I am from Laguna area and we also have most of these types of birds. I hope that this kind of video would help our people to take much more care of our environment both animals and plant lives. God bless to both of you and your family po.

[@pat-9169]

hello po mga idol sana sa next video niyo po is yung mga common birds na nasa probinsiya kasi gusto ko malaman kung anong klaseng mga ibon ang nag iingay tuwing umaga mga around 6 am hanggang 10 am po kasi di pa po ako familiar sa ibang ibon eh thanks po mga idol and for your effort para po makapag share ng mga info tungkol sa mga ibat ubang klase ng ibon at yung mga huni nila more power mga idol and God bless

[@plainsandwich6710]

The pied fantail is the bird that sparked my interest too!

[@birdingphilippines]

One of our favorite backyard birds, always full of character! Thanks for watching!

[@hadeszcodm2446]

I like that bird too pied fantail use to attack cats on our yard hehehe

[@BirdInMyCamera]

Nice 😊

[@birdingphilippines]

Thanks 😊

[@RichardCookphotography]

Awesome video. Well done

[@noivalencia]

Naple oriole is my favorite...sobrang nkka pag bigay ng relaxation ang kanilang sounds...i remember kpg ngllakad ako sa lilim ng mga niyog sa tanghali at bluesky ang panahon humihinto ako pra lng pkinggan ang huni nila....noong nsa leyte pa po ako...d2 nmn sa montalban yung fantail hindi sila mailap sa mga tao..mahilig silang magpakita ng kanilang buntot...kwawa nmn sila kpg dumadaan ang bagyo sa atin...

[@birdingphilippines]

keep on birding!

[@TristanMirasol]

Sobrang nakakatuwang madiscover ko itong video ninyo. Namiss ko na mag birding at kahit papano’y parang nagbirding na uli dahil sa video nato! Salamat sa paggawa ng video nato. Nakakakalma din ang inyong pagkwento. More pls, Adri and Trinket! ❤

[@MamitaClaud]

Thank you. I just watched this 2024. We have every bird and more that you featured but I don't take pictures. I gawk in wonder and enjoy their company. I love watching our endemic birds. My favorite is the golden bellied flyeater. Kailangan magtanim ng maraming puno para sa kanila at sa atin din.

[@birdingphilippines]

Keep on birding!

[@ariyanyan]

i always hear the same birds singing near our neighborhood, so i got curious what species they might be. this was very educational, thank you:)

[@datuarifmanulon1835]

you just earned a new subscriber! 💝

[@birdingphilippines]

Salamat! Keep on birding!

[@MayRoseMSM-pi1db]

Very informative and thanks for sharing. It is nice to learn about all the birds hanging out in my backyard just by watching your video. Kudos to your kind of people, bird lovers and nature lovers!

[@ronniemuring]

Impressive presentation! Informative indeed. Thanks.

[@birdingphilippines]

Thank you kindly!

[@joeyk9578]

Every morning, at my parents’ home in a quiet and woody village in Antipolo, I am awakened by the birds, most of them the common brown maya. It’s a very nice wake up call from nature. Sometimes I see a black yellow and white bird or a light blue and white one.

[@DomZone123]

It means your house is peaceful ❤❤

[@Ash-gk8jp]

Love your videos! Got a bit confused when you called one of them a yellow vented bulbul but then I realized the one I'm thinking of is a white-eared bulbul that's found here. It also has a yellow vent

[@birdingphilippines]

Glad you like them!

[@lawki2748]

Hello sir. Magandamg hapon po ... From isabela echague po ako .. touristguide po salamat po sa kontent nyo ang laking tulong po samen to.. ❤️

[@birdingphilippines]

good luck sa iyong birding!

[@UrbanWildeCDO]

Bird lover here from Mindanao! Nice video!

[@birdingphilippines]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@veroveroveroP]

Ang gaganda nila! Marami rin city birds sa lugar namen dito sa Muñoz QC, may ilog kasi. Every day ko inaabangan yung huni ng Kilyawan sa umaga. Then sa ilog naman merong tumatambay na Egret at Night Heron. Kakatuwa at nakaka happy sila pagmasdan.

[@birdingphilippines]

Salamat! Keep on birding!

[@tristanbartolome2840]

sa QC mukang marami nyan, dito kasi sa manila talaga, konti na lang, siguro sa aroceros park, intramuros, manila zoo, paco park, baka doon marami, pero sa city talaga like tondo, sampaloc etc. puro maya lang makikita, wala kang makikitang fan tail or kingfisher, may nakita akong fantail sa drive thru ng jollibee sa QC, pero sa maynila puro maya at kung minsan zebra dove, ayun lang talaga, nag try na ako ng bird feeder, puro maya lang pumupunta.

[@kenethgarcia7608]

New subscriber Po..keep up Po sa pag post Ng vids about birding..

[@alfcapili1952]

Nice video that's presented in a very approachable way to people like me who are new to the hobby. Looking forward to more. :)

[@birdingphilippines]

Many thanks! Keep on birding!

[@anaverayo9815]

Thank you for this incredible video!! I have now identified the birds here in my village based on their calls -- the pokpoks and zebra doves 😌

[@birdingphilippines]

Thanks for watching! Keep on birding !

[@chito1irigo]

Thanks for sharing. Nice video and script.

[@birdingphilippines]

Thanks for watching! Keep on birding!

[@kankeinaittebayo]

It's nice you include their distinctive sounds. Minsan kasi nadidinig ko sila here in manila pero di ko makita kung ano klase ibon.

[@birdingphilippines]

Salamat, keep on birding!

[@peterkirchvogel1861]

Thanks for the grat video and greetings from Europe!

[@birdingphilippines]

Greetings from sunny Philippines! Thanks!

[@acenelsonmata]

I love this video po. I didn't plan to watch the whole thing pero I found myself glued! Very engaging, and I appreciate the explanations. I just wish your audio, sir, were louder, kasi I wanted to hear the facts about these birds. I wasn't really into shooting birds (camera po hindi firearm😂), pero one time, I tried doing it in our place in Meycauayan City, Bulacan (85mm F/1.8 lang po longest lens meron ako, attached to a cheap DSLR). I realized that there were many beautiful things I've been missing just because I wasn't looking enough. Only that time was I made aware na meron palang "ganung" mga ibon maliban sa kalapati at common sparrows (which I thought were the real maya that time). In the end of my shoot, I was NOT able to identify ANY of them. Upon further research, what I saw that day were: Philippine coucal (which I thought was the eagle hahaha), chestnut munia (the real Philippine maya), and the beautiful kingfisher in flight (which I thought was 'nakawalang mamahaling alaga!'). I never expected to find such birds just hiding in the talahiban or bakanteng lote around the urban. Of course, my shots were all blurry pero happy na rin ako. If ever, can I ask what's your equipment po for all the shots above? I also noticed at 12:12 you attached a long lens sa phone lang po ba yun? Thanks in advance po sana ma-notice. hehe

[@birdingphilippines]

Hi, salamat sa feedback! Oo nga medyo mahina ang audio. Hindi naayos sa edit. Most of the footage here was shot with the setup you saw at the 12:12 mark, a spotting scope attached to a camera or minsan phone camera. We also use telephoto lenses na atleast 400 mm na zoom. Many thanks for watching!

[@jeffreymodesto168]

im a fan, is there a tour this year?

[@noivalencia]

I shared your channel...

[@birdingphilippines]

salamat!

[@ibringthelastwords1358]

This is underrated channel. The footages and the trivias are stunning. Keep up the Good Work 😊

[@ibringthelastwords1358]

And also thanks to this! I Identify the bird which creates strange sounds I always heard in the morning. And that is actually a zebra dove :)

[@OliverSalva]

This was such a great video!!!

[@marvingajardo8587]

Zebra Dove pala tawag dun, lagi ko po kasi nakikita sa PNR Tutuban station plaza ang mga ito, kasabay ko lang naglalakad di sila nalipad.

[@mallowkai4851]

theres this bird call i always heard growing up and it bothers me that i dont know what bird its from,, im found the video so fun to watch but i i wasnt able to notice if the bird call i hear was mentioned here :

[@janinacastro3785]

love iiiiiit!! complete with subtitles pa!

[@birdingphilippines]

thank you! haha, kasalanan ni Gwen! :)

[@lembiz3146]

Ang ganda. Thank you for sharing.

[@birdingphilippines]

salamat din! keep on birding!

[@FollowThomas]

This area of the world has incredible birds. Thanks for sharing them 👍

[@birdingphilippines]

Thank you too

[@dbaudee]

Cam reveal po ahaha

[@twentitu7647]

I love your content keep it up and maybe speak louder.

[@birdingphilippines]

Thanks!

[@isaiah_cuberrr]

Salamat po .masyado! Naghahanap po ako ng birding guides para sa mga ibon ng pilipinas, salamat po!

[@birdingphilippines]

Salamat din sa panonood! Keep on birding!

[@user-yp3tt2ek2r]

meron pa po, yung RED KEELED FLOWERPECKER mdami po dto sa amin sa QC nririnig ko lng sila

[@birdingphilippines]

Yes, medyo common din sya. Keep on birding!

[@bigcaptainschannel]

Love you video. Helps me to identify birds in the Philippines.

[@birdingphilippines]

Thanks for watching! Keep on birding!

[@HokageNarsRider]

Sana meron din kyong mga types of bird with there sounds. Gusto ko kc makita ung ibon n lagi ko nririnig dito sa bulacan. Nrinig ko sa background nyo. 0:53 to 1:20

[@vijayandrenvadiveloo7064]

Nice video!!👍

[@birdingphilippines]

Thanks!

[@FerdzBinuyaBirdingTV]

Great video sir! Loved the birds!

[@birdingphilippines]

Salamat sir! Haha, nagka-energy to edit some vids for the birdfest.

[@FerdzBinuyaBirdingTV]

@@birdingphilippines more to come sir! Kasama ako sa mga maghihintay.. 😊

[@MariaMaria-gt2cq]

Very nice video po. I’m a new birder. May i know what video cam you used or did u attache a monoscope to your phone?

[@birdingphilippines]

I used a smartphone with adapter attached to a spotting scope. I also have a Canon R7 at 100-500 lens. Good luck at keep on birding!

[@helenaprudenciado4388]

I only saw sparrows everyday but I don’t remember what birds I saw before.

[@philippebenz2643]

what do you call the Kurukukok?

[@andrewgalano8164]

❤️❤️❤️

[@birdingphilippines]

[@charlesrondina-mv8kq]

You guys Forgot the Chestnut Munia which used to be the National Bird of the philippines

[@judetchua]

Medyo mahina boses mo sir. Anyway, thank you very much for this.

[@birdingphilippines]

Salamat din sa panonood. Keep on birding!

[@studio_guing]

new Subbie here po...very informative & entertaining po tong video nyo. can I visit your place po someday? LOL! more power po

[@birdingphilippines]

Thanks and welcome!

[@JemuelDelaCruz]

ano po equipment nyo sa pag capture

[@vergelaldiano9618]

Pula ang mata parang aswang

[@ellaalbiaferraren2591]

Red keeled flowerpecker meron din po dto sa QC

[@birdingphilippines]

Yes, paminsan minsan may naliligaw din sa aming backyard. Keep on birding!

[@Gelatinocyte2]

Mabuti naman na nakasulat din yung lokal na pangalan ng mga ibon maliban sa scientific name nila. Mas gusto ko yung pangalang Tagalog - maiksi, at mas madaling sauladuhin.

[@birdingphilippines]

Salamat sa panonood!

[@hannahjoybarcela7183]

Hi po. Thank you so much po sa up-close videos 😍 Ask ko lang po kung alam niyo iyong ibon na nagha-hum "ti-du-diiiit ti-du-diiit di-du-di-du-diii" hehe tuwing summer? Near Bicol river po area namin. Kadalasan sign po yun samin na officially summer na talaga, kaso di namin po alam anong species iyon. 🥺

[@birdingphilippines]

Hi Hannah, ang ibon na may ganyang tunog ay Rusty-breasted Cuckoo. Ang previous English name nya ay Brush Cuckoo. Sa ibang lugar sa Pilipinas, ang local name nya ay pitupit dahil sa kanyang tunog. Salamat sa panonood, keep on birding!

[@raraatannn]

at 11:28 what bird is that in the background? sounds like a telephone ringing. I hear it all the time here at home, but I can't catch a glimpse 😊

[@birdingphilippines]

Hi! At 11:28, there is a Zebra Dove and some Asian Glossy Starlings calling

[@raraatannn]

@@birdingphilippines Thank you so much! I've checked and it's probably a zebra dove. Can't wait to spot it

[@plainsandwich6710]

Hello po! I just want to ask what time of day is best for birdwatching?

[@birdingphilippines]

Best time is esrly mornings. Also okay in the afternoon, 2-3 hours before sunset.

[@Ag-xx5qq]

Can anyone tell me what bird was making that sound at 4:48? please i have to know, I always hear it when i was a kid.

[@birdingphilippines]

Hi, that sound at 4:48 is from the Philippine Pied Fantail.

[@Ag-xx5qq]

@@birdingphilippines Thank you!

[@mrshortsighted3053]

Anong bird po yung nasa 6:00 timestamp? Yung nasa background sound po not in the video.

[@birdingphilippines]

the one in background at 6:00 is the call of the brown shrike. salamat sa panonood!

[@user-eh5hg5fb7x]

Gusto ko marining yung sound nilang lahat kasi di ko naririnig yung mga ibong ganyan ngayong 2024

[@TechEd09]

Hello po what camera/lens are u using po

[@birdingphilippines]

Hello! Gumagamit ako ng Swarovski Spotting Scope at small Panasonic Lumix camera via digiscoping at mayroon din akong Canon at 100-400 lens sa mga videos dito. Keep on birding!

[@bastysvoicenotes]

hello po! ano po name nung singing bird sa background around 11:07-11:10 lagi ko po siya naririnig kumakanta every morning hehe. thanks po!

[@birdingphilippines]

Hi, yan yung tunog ng Golden-bellied Flyeater. :)

[@shotsofredmist5212]

Recommended place to start po in metro manila? For beginners

[@birdingphilippines]

Hi, try La Mesa Ecopark and Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife. Sa South, you can try Las Pinas Paranaque Wetland Park.

[@MisterJuanPH]

anong spotting scope po gamit nyo?

[@birdingphilippines]

ang gamit ko ay swarovski optik spotting scope. salamat sa panonood!

[@chanelvenus]

Hi please i’ve been looking for the name of that birds that has a consistent melody rhythm ung sa 1:06-1:16 sa start ng video ano pong name ng bird na un?

[@birdingphilippines]

Hi Paris, yung nasa 1:06 ay Zebra Dove / Kurokutok or Bato bato locally

[@chanelvenus]

@@birdingphilippines thank you so much!!!!

[@chanelvenus]

@@birdingphilippines thank u again so much ever since I was a kid I wanted to know what that bird is, it’s bring memories from my childhood and it’s nostalgic

[@plainsandwich6710]

@@birdingphilippines hello po what about the bird call that plays in 10:54?

[@birdingphilippines]

@@plainsandwich6710 it is a golden-bellied flyeater/gerygone

[@pilot_bruh576]

Ha! Huli ka dilaw na ibon na sumisigaw sa Umaga alam ko na kung ano ka

[@angielicacabugsa8810]

But I have question po maam/sir what kind of bird po ba yung in between 1:11-1:12? Kase naririnig ko po yan sa amin pero hindi ko po nakikita 🥺 every morning and sometimes in the afternoon naririnig ko po sila. sana ma answer po yung tanong ko. Thank you in advance it would mean a lot to me 🥺

[@birdingphilippines]

Hi! Either Zebra Dove and a Black-naped Oriole ang tumatawaga sa 1:11 - 1:12

[@angielicacabugsa8810]

@@birdingphilippines omayghaaddd finally! Thank you pooo! I checked it already and its a Black Naped Oriole 🤩🤩 hopefully, they will let me see them I really loved the way they chirp. Yay! 🙌

[@HokageNarsRider]

Anung ibon po ung nsa background nyo 0:01 to 0:23 thanks po

[@birdingphilippines]

May zebra dove, pied fantail sa background

[@HokageNarsRider]

@@birdingphilippines thank you po.. nsagot na ang tanung ko since nung highschool pa ako.. yan ung lagi kong nririnig sa my mango farm na nadadaanan ko habang naglalakad noon..

[@Meegeee]

Tangina di ko mahanap ung ibon na naririnig ko sa umaga. PIIIIII PIIiiii piiuuu PIIII PIIiiii piiiuuu Piiu Edit: omg nahanap ko na. Golden-bellied Gerygone tawag sakanila

[@birdingphilippines]

Salamat sa panonood!

[@xyreonepogi914]

sir i've been looking for the bird that can sing in the intro of your video i was expecting to see it in your video but not🥲 i've been looking for the name of that bird i still can't find it can you please tell me whats the name of the bird that singing in your intro of this video please🥺

[@xyreonepogi914]

when i last heard it im still a kid so it is really really nostalgic for me that i heard that again🥰

[@birdingphilippines]

Hi thanks for watching, can you specify the time stamp at the intro so I can identify the song? All the bird sounds in the vid, are of species that can be found in the video.

[@birdingphilippines]

If it is at the very start while we are giving the intro, it is a Golden-bellied Flyeater | Golden-bellied Gerygone, Gerygone sulphurea.

[@HokageNarsRider]

Pwede nmn bilhin pagkabili pakawalan db? Kung hnd bibilhin mamamatay lng sila sa ngbebenta 12:40

[@birdingphilippines]

Bawal parin bilihin sir. Kasi kapag bumili, ma encourage ang mga poachers na manghuli at manghuli pa.