Birds, Babuyan Islands, province of Cagayan, Northern Philippines: New island distribution records.

Abstract

We present new bird distribution records from the Babuyan Islands in northern Philippines, gathered during recent biotic survey efforts in the area. This information represents a significant step towards a detailed understanding of the biodiversity of the region. We report three subspecies not previously recorded from the country: Ceyx erithaca erithaca, Turdus chrysolaus orii, and Motacilla alba leucopsis, providing new information about migratory patterns in the region. We also provide the first published records from the islets of Mabag and Barit, based on specimens in the collections of the U.S. National Museum of Natural History. With these records, the resident avifauna of this island group is relatively well-known, which will provide a firm foundation for planned studies of systematics and taxonomy of the bird fauna of the region.