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By Don Geoff Tabaranza and
Michael Edrial, From the Communication and Information Division
of Haribon Foundation
Eurylaimus steerii, or the
Mindanao Broadbill, locally known as Tukat, is endemic to the
Philippines, where it is known from Mindanao and neighboring Dinagat,
Siargao and Basilan (including the islets of Poneas and Malamaui).
Formerly widespread and fairly common, documented records since 1980
derive from just five sites, three on Mindanao (southern Zamboanga
Peninsula, Mount Apo and Bislig) and one on each of Poneas and
Siargao, indicating that it is now uncommon and local.
Although this bird is only around
6 + inches in size, it has unmistakable and very notable physical
characteristics. Its bill, legs, and the fleshy wrinkled fold of
skin (wattle) around its eyes is royal blue. Its eyes are emerald
green, blue or yellow depending on the light. Its wings are black
with conspicuous white bar edged with bright yellow shade
contrasting with its white belly.
Where does the Mindanao
Wattled Broadbill live?
The Mindanao Wattled Broadbill
inhabits the lower and middle storey of primary and adjacent or
admixed secondary forest, generally well below 1,000 meter but
occasionally up to 1,200-meter There are occasional records from
mangroves and even scrub forest on dry, rocky substrates.
What is life like for this
bird?
This species often sits alone on
expose perch, but groups do join mixed flocks. When flying from
branch to branch, its wings make a whirring noise, and it makes a
loud snapping noise with its bill while perched. It responds back
when it hears an imitation of its whistle.
For its food, it often observed
jumping from branch to branch-chasing insects and beating them on a
limb before swallowing. During breeding time in April to May, the
nest it makes is often large, elaborate and shaped like a hanging
purse.
Today, the population of this
species shows a decline. On Basilan, the original collector of the
species only found it once, in a small flock of seven (1877) but in
1906-07 “large series” was obtained. The bird was fairly common
(parties up to six) in Dinagat and Siargao in 1972 and it probably
now remains in low numbers on the latter island. It may be absent or
at least scarce in the western part of southern Mindanao. In 1976,
it was recorded common in the lowland rainforests of Mount Diwata,
recently in 2007 during the Haribon Baseline survey in a log over
area at Tubo-tubo, Cagwait, part of Mount Diwata range, a single
individual was recorded during the three week survey. Overall,
however, the Mindanao Broadbill give gives the impression of being
an uncommon and only patchily distributed species, possibly
reflecting some habitat association.
Its habitat, the forests, has
suffered extensive lowland deforestation. In 1988, forest cover had
been reduced to an estimated 29 percent on Mindanao, most of it
above 1,000-meter. Most remaining lowland forest is now leased to
logging concessions or mining applications. Dinagat has been
virtually totally deforested owing to illegal logging and chromite
surface-mining and little forest remains on Siargao, Basilan or
Malamaui. Forest at the key site of Bislig is being cleared under
concession and re-planted with exotic trees for paper production.
Forest fires, associated with insurgency, are a problem on the
Zamboanga Peninsula.
What can we do to save this
species?
• Do not support the trade of
these birds. If you see these birds being hunted or sold, report to
the proper authorities.
• There are recent records from
two protected areas, Mount Apo Natural Park and Siargao. In
addition, there are pre-1980 records from Mount Hilong-hilong
Watershed Reserve, the Basilan Natural Biotic Area and Mount Matutum
Forest Reserve, which is proposed for national park status.
• Propose sites supporting key
populations for protection, where appropriate.
If you’d like to know
how you can help to save our endemic species please e-mail: act@haribon.org
or call 434-4642.
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