Ficedula platenae

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Passeri
Infraordo: Passerida
Superfamilia: Muscicapoidea

Familia: Muscicapidae
Genus: Ficedula
Species: Ficedula platenae
Name

Ficedula platenae (Blasius, 1888)
Original combintion: Siphia Platenae Blasius, 1888

Synonyms

Muscicapa platenae (Blasius, 1888)

References

Braunschwiegisches Anzigen 52: 467.
Rand, A. L. (1955). Philippine Bird Names of Blasius. Auk 72 (2): 210-212.
Ibis 1888, Vol. 5, BHL (Letter to the editor of Ibis by Wilh. Blasius)
IUCN: Ficedula platenae (Vulnerable)

Vernacular names
English: Palawan Flycatcher
français: Gobemouche de Palawan
Nederlands: Palawanvliegenvanger
svenska: palawanflugsnappare

The Palawan flycatcher (Ficedula platenae) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only in the region of Palawan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

EBird describes the bird as "A small bird of lowland and foothill forest on Palawan. Favors undergrowth with palms or bamboo. Dark-brown above with a white belly, an orange chest and tail, and very pale orange on the throat and under the base of the tail. Similar to female Palawan blue flycatcher, but smaller, with a brown rather than gray head. "[2]

The Palawan flycatcher has a very unusual and distinct call. Song is a soft whistled "puu-puu piii!" with the third note higher. Also gives a repeated upslurred "puuii".This call gets repeated anywhere from 10 to 15 times in quick repetition. Then it gets followed by a short 5-10 second trill. The bird also will fan out and shake its tail while doing this call. This call very insect-like call often gets mistaken as an insect's call.[3]
Habitat and conservation status

It inhabits primary and secondary dipterocarp forest up to 1,000 meters above sea level. It favours areas rich in rattan, bamboo and palm trees. While they can somewhat tolerate secondary forest, they appear to be sensitive to habitat modification [4] It is often found on the lower understory and close to the forest floor. They have been noted to be very faithful to their favoured sites.[4]

It has been assessed as vulnerable with a population currently between 6,000 and 15,000, the Palawan flycatcher has attracted help from conservation groups. These groups have created protected areas on these islands where logging can't occur. By doing this, the primary source of their decline is lessened. Conservation groups attempted to cultivate and restore the lands which their species was wiped from. Unlike most species, the Palawan flycatcher did not return to these lands after the restoration back to old growth.[5]

The species is present in conservation areas - the entirety of Palawan has been designated a biosphere reserve but actual protection and enforcement against logging and hunting has been difficult. They are present in the protected area of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

Conservation actions proposed include surveys in remaining lowland forests in order to better understand population and distribution, habitat and tolerance for degradation. Support the proposed extension of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and formally protect other key sites in Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm and Mt. Victoria.

References

BirdLife International (2016). "Ficedula platenae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22709386A94206309. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22709386A94206309.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
"Palawan Flycatcher". Ebird.
Lambert, Frank (1993). "Some key sites and significant records of birds in the Philippines and Sabah". Bird Conservation International. 3 (4): 293. doi:10.1017/S0959270900002562.
Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife International Field Guides. pp. 334–335.
Mallari, N.A.D.; Collar, N.J.; Lee, D.C.; McGowan, P.J.K.; Wilkinson, R.; Marsden, S.J. (April 2011). "Population densities of understorey birds across a habitat gradient in Palawan, Philippines: implications for conservation". Oryx. 45 (2): 234–242. doi:10.1017/S0030605310001031.