Philippine shortwing explained

The Philippine shortwing (Brachypteryx poliogyna) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where it favours montane forest.

This species was formerly considered as subspecies of the white-browed shortwing, now the Javan shortwing (Brachypteryx montana). The white-browed shortwing was split into five separate species based on the deep genetic difference between the populations^{[1] [2]} coupled with the significant differences in plumage and vocalization.^{[3] [4]}

Seven subspecies are recognised:^[4]

• B. p. poliogyna Ogilvie-Grant, 1895 – montane north Luzon (north Philippines)
• B. p. andersoni Rand & Rabor, 1967 – montane south Luzon (north Philippines)
• B. p. mindorensis Hartert, EJO, 1916 – montane Mindoro (northwest Philippines)
• B. p. sillimani Ripley & Rabor, 1962 – montane Palawan (southwest Philippines)
• B. p. brunneiceps Ogilvie-Grant, 1896 – montane Negros and Panay (central west Philippines)
• B. p. malindangensis Mearns, 1909 – Mount Malindang (Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao, south Philippines)
• B. p. mindanensis Mearns, 1905 – Mount Apo, southeast Mindanao (south Philippines)

Notes and References

1. Kyriazis . C.C. . Alam . B. . Wjodyla . M. . Hackett . S. . Hosner . P. . Mays . H.L. . Heaney . L.R. . Reddy . S. . 2018 . Colonization and diversification of the white-browed shortwing (Aves: Muscicapidae: Brachypteryx montana) in the Philippines . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 121 . 121-131 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2017.12.025. free .
2. Shakya . S.B. . Irham . M. . Brady . M.L. . Haryoko . T. . Fitriana . Y.S. . Johnson . O. . Rahman . M.A. . Robi . N.J. . Moyle . R.G. . Prawiradilaga . D.M. . Sheldon . F.H. . 2020 . Observations on the relationships of some Sundaic passerine taxa (Aves: Passeriformes) previously unavailable for molecular phylogenetic study . Journal of Ornithology . 161 . 3 . 651-664 . 10.1007/s10336-020-01766-9.
3. Collar . N. . del Hoyo . J. . Christie . D.A. . Boesman . P.F.D. . 2022 . Philippine Shortwing (Brachypteryx poliogyna), version 1.0 . Sly . N.D. . Birds of the World . Ithaca, NY, USA . Cornell Lab of Ornithology . 10.2173/bow.whbsho7.01 .
4. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela Rasmussen . January 2023 . Chats, Old World flycatchers . IOC World Bird List Version 13.1 . International Ornithologists' Union . 5 February 2023.