A rare bird compared to the mythical “Ibong Adarna”—a female Philippine Trogon—was recently spotted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Davao Region in the tropical forests surrounding Mount Apo.
The department shared photos of the colorful, long-tailed avian, scientific name Harpactes ardens, perched on a tree branch.
“The female Philippine Trogon, captured here by the DENR Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section (PAMBCS) Region XI, displays shades of mustard-yellow underparts and an olive-brown head. On the other hand, the male ones show bright colors,” the agency added.
The bird has been associated with the creature of legend from the 16th-century epic poem “Ibong Adarna” due to the bright and colorful tones of its feathers.
The DENR has called on the public to help protect and preserve the legendary bird.
The female Trogon possesses subdued shades of mustard-yellow underparts and an olive-brown head. They feed on insects and fruits and shelter in tree hollows, according to the DENR.
The bird can be found near the dormant stratovolcano located in the Southern Mindanao region and are found “blissfully living in the darker portions of our forests as they are reluctant to people,” the agency said.
The lush forests of the Philippine archipelago contain around 741 bird species, 74 of which are considered threatened, with the country ranking 9th among countries with the most number of globally-threatened birds.
About 200 species of avians in the country have also been deemed endemic, with at least 15 considered critically endangered, 12 as endangered, 47 as vulnerable, and 59 as near threatened, according to a study by Haribon Foundation.
The threat to local bird species is attributed to high levels of deforestation, habitat degradation, wildlife exploitation, lack of wildlife protection, and lack of funding for conservation efforts, according to a study from the University of Utah.
The illegal wildlife trade has also become a threat to the conservation of species, with the industry being valued at around P50 billion in the country, according to the Asian Development Bank in 2019.
Bird poaching is most rampant in the areas of Palawan, Aurora, and Cagayan.
Among the species most hunted by poachers are blue-naped parrots, Palawan hill mynahs, Brahminy kites, and Luzon lowland scops owls.