PH Bird News > National Capital Region (Manila)

Birds of La Vista: A Morning foray into Urban Wildlife

Published: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 2:00:45 PM Philippine Standard Time

On a misty morning in August, bird enthusiast Camille King took to the streets of La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City to observe the urban wildlife that thrived within the restricted access grounds. Over the course of three hours and fourteen minutes, Camille recorded a total of seventeen species, covering a distance of approximately 0.9 kilometers.

Among the birds spotted were several species of doves and parakeets, including a lone Rose-ringed Parakeet perched high above the treetops. Other notable sightings included the Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, a first for some birders in the area, and the Golden-bellied Gerygone, a diminutive species that is rarely seen in urban settings.

Ficus trees seemed to be a magnet for several species, including the Yellow-vented Bulbul and the Asian Glossy Starling. Both species were observed feeding on the fruit of these trees, with the Asian Glossy Starling being seen in particularly large numbers, comprising a full 100 of the total count.

Several species made appearances in pairs, including the Black-naped Oriole and the Collared Kingfisher, highlighting the presence of breeding couples in the area. In contrast, the Crested Myna, a bird often associated with urban landscapes, was seen in much larger numbers, consisting of ten individuals.

While no raptors were observed, the variety of species seen on this trip is a testament to the importance of urban green spaces for supporting local biodiversity.

This report was generated by a large language model using data sourced from eBird, an online database of bird distribution and abundance. Read more.