Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis) |
Asian Fairy-bluebird (Irena puella) |
Rufous Hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax) * |
Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja) |
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) |
Mindanao Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba criniger) * |
Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) |
Black-chinned Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus leclancheri) |
Metallic Pigeon (Columba vitiensis) |
Pink-necked Pigeon (Treron vernans) |
Amethyst Dove (Phapitreron amethystina) |
Grey Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula pickeringii) |
Red Collared-Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica) |
Pied Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula bicolor) |
Spotted Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula carola) * |
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) |
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) |
Blue-winged Pitta (Pitta moluccensis) |
Variable Kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus) |
Blue-capped Kingfisher (Actenoides hombroni) * |
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) |
Collared Kingfisher (Todirhamphus chloris) |
Green-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura viridifacies) * |
Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora) |
Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola) |
White-cheeked Bullfinch (Pyrrhula leucogenis) * |
Great-billed Parrot (Tanygnathus megalorynchos) |
Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) * |
Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis) |
Azure-rumped Parrot (Tanygnathus sumatranus) |
Great Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) * |
Great Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) * |
This new series of bird stamps from the Philippines seemed to start with 3 stamps that made an initial appearance on Ebay. Further parts of the series were also offered by Philippine Ebay traders before they were available in the post offices there. So far, 32 stamps have been issued in the series, and there was a rumour of a final part to be issued early in 2008. In 2005/6, the Philippines issued a series of Butterfly stamps that resulted in 47 different species, and at least 29 minor redesigns, so perhaps we can expect more birds!
With the Philippines hosting such a high number of endemic bird species (marked *), it is not surprising that this new series has produced 10 new species for my collection. However, it is surprising, and disappointing, that several species which are rarely encountered in the Philippines are included. The illustrations seem to be almost all taken from MacKinnon's Guide to the Birds of the Philippines, and I suspect that some of the choices made were because the illustration in the book looked "nice". Also, the only error I have found may be caused by the chosen picture for Rufous Hornbill being close to the name "Writhed Hornbill". The Java Sparrow is an introduced species.
Added 3rd February, 2008