Philippine Shortwing
NamePhilippine Shortwing
Common NamePhilippine Shortwing
Scientific NameBrachypteryx poliogyna
FamilyMuscicapidae
Wingspan (cm)18
Length (cm)13
Weight (g)20
Plumage DetailsMale has a dark bluish-grey body with a distinctive rufous-brown crown and nape, and dark lores. Females are duller and browner overall, with a less pronounced rufous cap. Both sexes have dark bills and legs.
Vocalization / CallA high-pitched, thin, often melancholic whistle, sometimes a series of clear, repeated notes like 'tsee-tsee-tsee' or 'swee-swee-swee'.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeEndemic to the Philippines, found on numerous islands including Luzon, Mindoro, Panay, Negros, Cebu, Leyte, and Mindanao, typically at elevations above 1000 meters in montane forests.
Identifying FeaturesSmall, plump body with a short tail, Dark bluish-grey plumage (male) or browner (female), Rufous-brown cap (more prominent in male), Skulking behavior in dense forest undergrowth, High-pitched whistling call
Description
A small, plump, ground-dwelling bird endemic to the Philippines. Males are dark bluish-grey with a rufous cap, while females are browner. It typically forages in dense forest undergrowth.
