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Intavas, Bukidnon

The montane forests of Mindanao are home to many of my personal top endemic species. Intavas in particular is also THE most sought-after bird, not just in the Philippines, but in the world: the Philippine Eagle. Unlike many other montane birding destinations, Intavas does not require long treks, protection from leeches, or camping out. Just a short hike up from the base of the trail, and you can encounter endemics such as the Red-eared Parrotfinch and White-cheeked Bullfinch. The cool mountain breeze and wide, open trail make you feel like you could effortlessly bird from dawn to dusk. The main birding area itself is constrained to a short stretch of the trail going up Mt. Kitanglad. Birding along this path and connected side trails will net you encounters with mixed flocks led by Black-and-Cinnamon Fantail and comprised of Cinnamon Ibons (fondly nicknamed “Cinnabon” by us local birders), Negros Leaf-Warblers, McGregor’s Cuckooshrikes, and Little Pied Flycatchers.

When the season is right, fruiting trees attract Mindanao Racket-tails, which are typically only seen in flight, and Apo Mynas, one of the most charismatic endemics and a personal favorite of mine (although they are quite common in Intavas). Similarly, flowers attract Fire-breasted Flowerpeckers, Olive-capped Flowerpeckers, and Gray-hooded Sunbirds. Although I haven’t experienced this myself, the bullfinches are known to feed right along the trail when certain flowers are in bloom, giving guests arms-length views—much better compared to their usual perches high up in the trees. If you’re lucky, the skulking Long-tailed Bush-Warbler and Philippine Shortwing sometimes show themselves, albeit usually deep in the undergrowth surrounding the trails.
Two thousand eight hundred eighty-nine meters above sea level, at the summit of Mt. Kitanglad, lies a telecom station that unfortunately detracts from the beauty of Mt. Kitanglad. A silver lining to this, however, is that the trail going up to the station is fairly well maintained. For those who don’t mind a bit of a hike, the Apo Sunbird can be found at around 2000 MASL, around 300 m above the main birding area. The hike up is also well known for sparse records of the Philippines’ most elusive birds: Goodfellow’s Jungle-Flycatcher and Mindanao Serin. Both species have below 50 records, and the Mindanao Serin in particular was only photographed in 2026. Definitely an exciting prospect to think about as you’re making the hike up!

The Kitanglad Mountain Range is the most reliable place to see Philippine Eagles in the wild, and for guests who simply want to witness these awesome—in the truest sense of the word—eagles in flight, the lower area of Intavas facing the mountain is your best bet. I have personally seen the eagles perched twice in the area, but even just seeing these massive (almost monstrous) creatures in flight is an experience that sticks with you. Of course, expectations must be tempered; some groups do not see the Philippine Eagle at all despite waiting several mornings. Still, catching them soaring against the backdrop of one of the country’s tallest mountains is worth every second of waiting.
As if there wasn’t enough to love about Intavas, CDO (where you fly to from Manila) and Bukidnon both have other great birding sites, such as the lowland forest Dansolihon; Mapawa Nature Park, where Philippine Dwarf-Kingfishers can be found; and the Maputi Bird Preserve, which has hides for some of the harder-to-find birds of Intavas. The fantastic species, access to other birding sites, and chance to see the aptly named King of the Skies make Intavas my favorite place in the country to both tour and visit. An absolute must-do for anyone interested in Philippine birding!

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