Bangan Hill National Park

Birds

Bangan Hill National Park also supports a charming community of birds, many of them endemic or native to the Luzon lowland forests. These species thrive in its quiet woods, limestone outcrops, and forest patches that serve as vital refuge in an increasingly human-altered landscape.

Philippine Coucal
A large, secretive bird with glossy black plumage and chestnut wings, the coucal moves stealthily through undergrowth, hunting insects, lizards, and small birds.

White-eared Brown Dove
A forest-dwelling dove endemic to the Philippines, it forages on the forest floor for seeds and fallen fruit and is known for its soft, melodic call.

Philippine Bulbul
One of the most commonly heard birds in Bangan Hill, this songbird forages in the canopy for fruit and insects. It has a sweet and bubbly call that fills the forest air.

Philippine Serpent Eagle
This mid-sized raptor is often seen gliding above the treetops, searching for snakes, lizards, and small mammals. Its sharp, whistling call is a distinct feature of the lowland forest soundscape.

Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker
A tiny, energetic bird that clings to tree trunks and branches, pecking for insects beneath bark. It is often seen in mixed-species foraging groups.

Brown Shrike
This migratory bird winters in the Philippines and can be seen perched on branches scanning for insects. It impales its prey on thorns or barbed wire, earning it the nickname “butcher bird.”

Lowland White-eye
A small greenish songbird with a white ring around the eye, it feeds on nectar, insects, and fruit and is commonly found flitting in the mid-canopy in groups.

Olive-backed Sunbird
A bright and active nectar feeder, this sunbird frequents flowering trees and shrubs. Males have a metallic blue throat and yellow belly, often singing while feeding.

Philippine Nightjar
A cryptic, nocturnal bird that roosts on the ground during the day, blending with leaf litter. It becomes active at dusk, hunting moths and beetles with silent flight.

Collared Kingfisher
Often seen perched near forest edges or open clearings, this bold bird has a distinctive loud call and feeds on insects, frogs, and small reptiles, often diving to catch its prey.

Bangan Hill National Park is a small yet vital green space, providing sanctuary for both common and endemic species in northern Luzon’s increasingly fragmented landscape—where forest songbirds, reptiles, and mammals find shelter in one of the last patches of lowland forest in the region.

Popular

Bangan Hill National Park, located in the municipality of Bayombong in Nueva Vizcaya, northern Luzon, is one of the smallest protected areas in the Philippines. Its lowland dipterocarp forest and gentle limestone slopes are home to a small but important group of native mammals and reptiles that survive in this green island of biodiversity.

Philippine Long-tailed Macaque
This intelligent and social primate lives in family troops and is often seen foraging near forest edges. It feeds on fruits, leaves, and insects and adapts well to secondary forests like those in Bangan Hill.

Philippine Warty Pig
Though shy and elusive, this endemic wild pig may inhabit the denser parts of the park. It roots through the soil in search of roots, tubers, and fallen fruit, helping to aerate and regenerate forest floors.

Common Palm Civet (Musang)
This nocturnal mammal quietly moves through trees and the understory, feeding on fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. It plays an important role in seed dispersal within the forest.

Philippine Forest Rat (Rattus everetti)
An endemic rodent found in forested lowland areas, this species is an important part of the food web, serving as prey for birds of prey and snakes while feeding on seeds and insects.

Northern Luzon Cloud Rat (possible presence)
Though more common in higher elevations, small remnant populations may occur in well-forested patches. This large, tree-dwelling rodent feeds on leaves and fruits and is strictly nocturnal.

Asian House Shrew
Occasionally found along the forest fringe, this insectivorous mammal is quick-moving and feeds on beetles, worms, and other small invertebrates. It plays a role in pest control.

Water Monitor Lizard
This large reptile may be seen near creeks and open spaces, basking on rocks or swimming. It preys on fish, amphibians, eggs, and carrion and is one of the largest reptiles in the Philippines.

Tokay Gecko
Known for its loud, echoing calls, the tokay gecko clings to tree trunks and walls, feeding on insects and small vertebrates. It is nocturnal and territorial, often hiding in tree crevices.

Skinks (Various native species)
These small, shiny lizards are active during the day and found among leaf litter or on rocks. They feed on insects and play an important role in balancing insect populations.

Reticulated Python (possible presence)
This non-venomous constrictor may inhabit forested areas or nearby waterways. It preys on birds, rodents, and small mammals and can reach impressive sizes, though it generally avoids humans.

Birds

Bangan Hill National Park also supports a charming community of birds, many of them endemic or native to the Luzon lowland forests. These species thrive in its quiet woods, limestone outcrops, and forest patches that serve as vital refuge in an increasingly human-altered landscape.

Philippine Coucal
A large, secretive bird with glossy black plumage and chestnut wings, the coucal moves stealthily through undergrowth, hunting insects, lizards, and small birds.

White-eared Brown Dove
A forest-dwelling dove endemic to the Philippines, it forages on the forest floor for seeds and fallen fruit and is known for its soft, melodic call.

Philippine Bulbul
One of the most commonly heard birds in Bangan Hill, this songbird forages in the canopy for fruit and insects. It has a sweet and bubbly call that fills the forest air.

Philippine Serpent Eagle
This mid-sized raptor is often seen gliding above the treetops, searching for snakes, lizards, and small mammals. Its sharp, whistling call is a distinct feature of the lowland forest soundscape.

Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker
A tiny, energetic bird that clings to tree trunks and branches, pecking for insects beneath bark. It is often seen in mixed-species foraging groups.

Brown Shrike
This migratory bird winters in the Philippines and can be seen perched on branches scanning for insects. It impales its prey on thorns or barbed wire, earning it the nickname “butcher bird.”

Lowland White-eye
A small greenish songbird with a white ring around the eye, it feeds on nectar, insects, and fruit and is commonly found flitting in the mid-canopy in groups.

Olive-backed Sunbird
A bright and active nectar feeder, this sunbird frequents flowering trees and shrubs. Males have a metallic blue throat and yellow belly, often singing while feeding.

Philippine Nightjar
A cryptic, nocturnal bird that roosts on the ground during the day, blending with leaf litter. It becomes active at dusk, hunting moths and beetles with silent flight.

Collared Kingfisher
Often seen perched near forest edges or open clearings, this bold bird has a distinctive loud call and feeds on insects, frogs, and small reptiles, often diving to catch its prey.

Bangan Hill National Park is a small yet vital green space, providing sanctuary for both common and endemic species in northern Luzon’s increasingly fragmented landscape—where forest songbirds, reptiles, and mammals find shelter in one of the last patches of lowland forest in the region.