From the moment I spied this bird with a distinctive yellow ring around its eye, I had a hunch nature was presenting me with a rare treat.

I was right. Wikipedia says that the Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo is “an uncommon bird and is usually shy and difficult to see.” Romy Ocon echoes this observation (see his far superior photo of another immature specimen), noting that Cuculus pectoralis (that’s its scientific name) is “uncommon in all forest levels.”

As if to prove how extraordinary my sighting of the Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo was, the Internet Bird Collection and the Mangoverde World Bird Guide – sites I’ve come to rely on for more ornithological data – don’t have any photos of it at all.

It looked like this youngster had been asleep and woke up when I opened our bedroom’s balcony doors. (Ever since I lucked upon the Blue-Rock Thrushes, I’ve gotten into the early-morning habit of scanning the balcony’s surroundings to case the joint, so to speak, for birding photo-ops.) Partly hidden by a thick santol branch, it hung around long enough for these pics.

I get a real kick out of privileged encounters like this. We’re fortunate we still get to enjoy the company of these creatures.

Posted in: Better Earth, Photo Gallery | | December 2009