Philippine Philately Birds

Republic of the Philippines - Stamps & Postal History

RP Issues of 2009

2009, May 13. Philippine Birds - Definitives (Reprints 2009A)

Litho Offset. Amstar Company, Inc. Perf. 13.5

Singles, Sheets of 100 (10 x 10) ; Se-tenant Blocks of 10 (10 Blocks per sheet), Sheets of 100

Se-tenant Blocks of 10 (410,000)

       7p Olive-backed Sunbird

       7p Metallic-winged Sunbird

       7p The Brown-throated Sunbird

       7p Lina's Sunbird

       7p Purple-throated Sunbird

       7p Apo Sunbird

       7p Copper-throated Sunbird

       7p Flaming Sunbird

       7p Grey-hooded Sunbird

       7p Lovely Sunbird

Designs: All pictures taken from the book "A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines" by Robert S. Kennedy, Pedro C. Gonzales, Edward C. Dickinson, Hector C. Miranda, Jr., and Timothy H. Fisher.

First Day Covers: Manila

7p - The Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis). Also known as the Yellow-bellied Sunbird. Originally from mangrove habitat, they have adapted well to humans, and is now common even in fairly densely populated areas, even forming their nests in human dwellings. They are small songbirds, at most 4.75 inches long. (http://www.redorbit.com/education/reference_library/birds/olivebacked_sunbird/3667/index.html)

7p - Metallic-winged Sunbird (Aethopyga pulcherrima). Endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size. The population trend appears to be stable and size has not been quantified. (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=8333&m=0) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallic-winged_Sunbird).

7p - Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis). Also known as the Plain-throated Sunbird. It is found in a wide range of semi-open habitats in South-East Asia, ranging from Myanmar to the Lesser Sundas and west Philippines. The Grey-throated Sunbird found in the remaining part of the Philippines is often considered a subspecies of the Brown-throated Sunbird, but the two differ consistently in measurements and plumage. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain-throated_Sunbird)

7p - Lina's Sunbird (Aethopyga linaraborae). Lina’s Sunbird, common name for a small, colorful sunbird recently discovered in the Philippines. Lives in tropical forests at about 1200 m (about 4000 ft) on the isolated eastern mountains of the Philippine island of Mindanao. Its entire known range covers only about 800 sq km (about 300 sq mi). The Lina’s sunbird resembles a hummingbird with its long, curved beak used to sip nectar from flowers. Unlike hummingbirds, it is unable to hover in flight. (http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761595255/lina%e2%80%99s_sunbird.html)

7p - Purple-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia sperata or Leptocoma sperata). Also known as Van Hasselt's Sunbird.   Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. The males and females are about the same size, 10 cm or 4 inches long. Females have olive-green under parts with a yellow belly. Males are very colourful, they have purple throats, red bellies with green on their heads, black-grey wings with a bright blue band. (http://www.teachingtreasures.com.au/student-projects/purple-throated-sunbird.htm). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple-throated_Sunbird)

7p – Apo Sunbird (Aethopyga boltoni). A species of bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. The species is not yet threatened by habitat loss, and is common within its range, but it is listed as Near Threatened due to its tiny range. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apo_Sunbird).

7p - Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarina calcostetha Kelicap Bakau - Malay). Found mainly in mangroves, but also coconut groves and coastal scrub. Sunbirds eat insects but are best known for sipping on nectar. They have a typical long, slender, decurved bill with fine serration along the margins of both mandibles. Like other Sunbirds, the Copper-throated male is more colourful than the female. (http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/birds/Nectarina_calcosthetha.htm)

7p - Flaming Sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans). Endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend. (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=8332&m=0)

7p - Grey-hooded Sunbird (Aethopyga primigenia). A species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss. This species is listed as Near Threatened because it has a small, fragmented range. Habitat within its altitudinal range is thought to be secure and hence it is not considered more threatened. (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=8330&m=0) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey-hooded_Sunbird).

7p - Lovely Sunbird (Aethopyga shelleyi). Endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion. The population trend appears to be stable, and size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern. (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=32260&m=0)

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Articles by Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak

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Issues of 2009