Republic of the Philippines - Stamps & Postal History

 

RP Issues of 2009

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2009, December 28.  Philippine Birds - Definitives  (Reprints 2009B)

Litho Offset.  Amstar Company, Inc.  Perf. 13.5

Singles; Se-tenant Blocks of 4 (25 blocks per sheet), Sheets of 100 (10 x 10) 

       

                        

 

 

   10p   Blue-Crowned Racquet-Tail  -  Singles  (1,000,000)

 

Se-tenant Blocks of Four  (287,500) 

 

   26p  Philippine Tailorbird

   26p  Mountain Tailordbird

   26p  Black-Headed Tailorbird

   26p  Ashy Tailorbird

 

 

Design:  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

 


Blue-headed Racquet-tail (Prioniturus discurus).  Found on all the larger islands of the Philippines not starting with "P" (i.e., not Palawan or Panay). It is 27cm, basically green with a blue crown, bluish undertail, whitish beak, and dark underwings with green coverts. The Blue-headed Racquet-tail (P. platenae) was formerly included in this species.  There are three or four subspecies:  (1) P. d.  discurus: Jolo, Mindanao, Olutanga, Basiilan, Guimara, Luzon;  (2)  P. d. whiteheadi: Negros, Bohol, Samar, Leyte, Masbate, Cebu. Less blue on crown;  (3)  P. d. nesophilus: Tablas, Sibuyan, Catanduanes. Still less blue. May be part of P.d.  whiteheadi;  (4)  P. d. mindorensis: Mindoro. Green forehead, hindcrown shades to violet.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-crowned_Racquet-tail)

26p Philippine Tailorbird (Orthotomus castaneiceps).  A species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family. It is found only in the Philippines.  Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

26p Mountain Tailorbird (Orthotomus cuculatus).  A species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.   Very common montane species but fast moving bird. Seen frequently at the park in pairs. Often part of bird waves.

26p Black-headed Tailorbird (Orthotomus nigriceps). A  songbird species in the family Cisticolidae. It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage.    Endemic to Mindanao, secretive and hard to see. All black head with white eyebrow. White-throat in female.  It is found only in the Philippines.

26p Ashy Tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps). A species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.    Ashy Tailorbirds eat insects. They are very common in mangroves, energetically foraging in the lower understorey; moving and calling constantly.

 

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  • Birds

 

Articles by Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak

 

 

 

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Issues of 2009