FAQs

As an archipelago, the Philippines has numerous biogeographically distinct regions, with each region having a certain set of endemic species. To simplify things, the Philippines can be divided into four island groups: Luzon in the north, Visayas in the center, Mindanao in the south, and Palawan in the west. Each group will have a certain "set" of endemic species (with exceptions and overlaps of course), and first-time visitors to the Philippines will have to decide which set of endemics they want to target.

It can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you've never visited the country before, so I'll lay out some of the must-see birding spots in each region below. If you want to dive deeper into the birding spots in the Philippines, check out the Tours section of my page!​​

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In Luzon, you will most likely be flying in to Manila from wherever you're from. Within Metro Manila, you can check out La Mesa Ecopark and Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center. For some better birding, I recommend Subic Bay in Bataan and Marilaque Highway (called "Infanta" by local birders) in Quezon.

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In Visayas, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape in Bohol is a fantastic place to bird if it's you're first time in the region, with fairly easy logistics and decent accommodations nearby. Twin Lakes Natural Park in Negros Oriental can be reached from Dumaguete City and is an amazing place even sans birding.

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In Mindanao, Intavas in Bukidnon is a great spot for montane Mindanao endemics and gives you a chance to see the most sought-after bird in the Philippines, the Philippine Eagle! For lowland forests, Pasonanca Natural Park is quite easy to get to from Zamboanga City.

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In Palawan, Puerto Princesa is hands down the best place to bird. Not only are the birds different from those found in the rest of the country, the infrastructure for avitourism in Puerto Princesa is second to none in the Philippines. There is also a hide for the world-renown Philippine Peacock-Pheasant!

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Ideally, you want to avoid the typhoon season, which is from July to November, not just for the birds but also to avoid muddy trails, dangerous driving conditions, and flight cancellations. This holds true mainly for Luzon and Visayas. Mindanao is often spared from typhoons, but the weather can still be a bit unpredictable at times. For Palawan, birding should be good year round, and its geographical position means it rarely bears the brunt of typhoons that hit the country.

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In terms of bird activity, May is a common incubation period for a lot of species on Luzon, so you may want to  come in April or June to avoid periods of low activity. December to April is the best time for most species, which is why this is the busiest time of the year for most tour operators and guides.

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