Sagip Sarihay Series features critically endangered species in the Philippines, with weekly posts of alternating plant and animal species, and with the primary aims of awareness and call to action. This series is a project of the SciTech and the VA sections of UST-CSJ. (Note: Weekly order of posting does not reflect actual order of intensity of endangerment. Database reference for selection of species is the IUCN Red List.)

SAGIP SARIHAY #12

Species: Centropus steerii (Black-hooded coucal)

Words by Marc Erickson Mosqueda
Artwork by Aya El Oirdighi

A visual representation of Black-hooded coucal.

Description

Centropus steerii, commonly known as the “black-hooded coucal,” is a species of birds endemic to the Philippines, belonging to the family Cuculidae. It can be identified with its distinctive glossy black head forming a dark hood, browning plumage, and glossy dark green tail (del Hoyo, et al., 2014).

According to the Zoological Society of London, C. steerii has been designated as an “EDGE species” and ranked 21st in the list of distinct endangered bird species in the world. The bird is also listed in the IUCN Red List as critically endangered (BirdLife International, 2018).

Locality

The bird is endemic to the lowland forests in the island of Mindoro, Philippines. Sightings of C. steerii were specific to Siburan, Puerto Galera, and Malpalon.

Threats

The population of C. steerii has been estimated to be extremely small with around 70 to 400 individuals left. Detailed analyses conducted have also shown the rapid decline of the species population, attributed to habitat loss.

Large-scale deforestation since 1988 drastically reduced forest coverage in Mindoro. Over the years, only a tiny fraction of lowland forests remains as a viable habitat for C. steerii. This has also resulted in population fragmentation, posing a risk to its genetic diversity and viability.

How can we help this endangered species?

Conservation actions have been undertaken with the establishment of forest protection and restoration efforts in Mt. Siburan, Lake Nauan National Park, and Mt. Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary (Lit, et al., 2011). In addition, environmental education campaigns and local ecotourism plans are being conducted in order to raise public awareness in biological conservation and environmental advocacy.

As of today, actions such as prospective surveys in the remaining habitats are still being proposed to give us more information as to the current status of the species. In addition, the remnant forest areas in Malpalon and Puerto Galera have yet to be established as conservation areas.

References

BirdLife International. (2018). Centropus steerii (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22684225A125399142. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684225A125399142.en.

del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. (2014). HBW and BirdLife

International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

Lit Jr, I .L.; Yap, S. A.; Alviola, P. A.; Labatos, B. V.; de Leon, M. P.; Fernando, S. P.; Bantayan, N. C.; Santos, E. P.; Lambio, I. A. F. (2011). Naujan Lake National Park Site Assessment and Profile Updating. Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc., Muntinlupa City.