Biggest “sandpiper” on the planet

One of the only tool-using shorebirds

It’s technically a duck, but it’s big, upright, and long-legged enough that it often looks like a small goose

Philippine Republic Act 9147 mandates that these birds shall not be hunted, captured, or kept in captivity

One of the few bats known as possible “spider experts”

Its decline was so rapid and poorly tracked that conservationists only realized how critical the situation was in the early 2000s

For years it was lumped into “lesser sand plover”

Its boom has been compared to blowing across the top of a giant bottle — a sound low enough to feel in your chest on still mornings

Helped spark forest restoration efforts in Cebu, proving one little bird can reshape conservation priorities

The “cheetahs” of the deep ocean

A heavyweight champ — elegant, yes, but you don’t want to mess with that beak

Black feathers, white cap, sleek shape — it’s the tuxedo of the bird world

Among the most athletic dolphins, known for their spectacular leaps and spins that can reach several meters high

Sometimes called the “scars in the water” thanks to their many white markings

When you touch it (not that you should!), it feels like coarse sandpaper

Called a “mock viper” because it mimics the look and behavior of true vipers

Has salt-excreting glands, allowing it to live entirely in the ocean without ever needing to come ashore

The most widespread species of snakes on earth are found throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans and from Africa to Central America

Its venom is among the most toxic of any snake, but it’s so mild-mannered that bites to humans are extremely rare

Its thin, translucent skin gives it a ghostly appearance under bright light

Remains one of the least-studied fruit bats in the world

Its flight is nearly soundless, thanks to specially fringed wing feathers that disrupt air turbulence

Defies the usual “creature of the night” stereotype by thriving in open landscapes and often hunting boldly in daylight

Nicknamed the “Asian pancake turtle” for its flat shape and smooth, soft texture

A beak built for everything—one of the most versatile tools in the kingfisher family!

With an extraordinary sense of smell—its nose is its main tool for survival

Can spend months at sea without touching land, sleeping on the wing and resting on the open ocean

Has a charming quirk—it’s a tent-making bat

A bird that carries the rhythms of the seasons on its wings

Quietly appreciated by farmers because it helps control pest populations, especially rats and locusts, in agricultural areas

Possesses highly potent venom—more toxic than that of a cobra

The bird with cartoonish eyes

True to its name, it sleeps upside down like a bat, confusing anyone who stumbles upon it

Proudly holds the title of the largest woodpecker in Asia—and one of the largest in the world

A bird that seems to carry a bit of fire on its back

Its call is considered a sign of hot afternoons, since it often calls persistently during the warmest parts of the day

Often seen in pairs, roosting together snugly in tree hollows

Nocturnal crab-cracker, master of camouflage, and solitary guardian of the beach

By day, it perches stiff and still, looking exactly like a dead branch… until you notice its glowing eyes

A bird built for subtlety—rarely drawing attention but always leaving an impression when spotted

Often mistaken for an earthworm

Its lungs are long and extend almost the entire length of its body

When resting, it can be very difficult to spot, as it looks like part of the tree itself

Sometimes mistaken for a rock or a log when it’s resting

People who encounter it for the first time often don’t believe it’s a bat at all

Looks more like a pig dashing away than a deer leaping into the air

Deeply rooted in Filipino culture that it was once featured on the Philippine one-peso coin

One of the rarest birds in the world with feathers that change color depending on the season

Looks ordinary—but transforms into one of the most extravagant birds during breeding season

One of the lesser-known members of the dolphin family, despite its dramatic name

May appear grayer when calm and brighter pink when active or overheated

Can squeeze through shockingly small gaps if their head fits

The third most widespread rat on Earth, after the brown rat and black rat

Has a piercing yellow eyes with a default “surprised” look

The only sawfish known to spend long stretches of its life in freshwater lakes, not just rivers or coasts

Name comes from a splash of color that’s not easily seen—the bright red feathers under their tails

Has specialized feathers with soft edges that allow it to fly almost completely silently

A snake to be respected (and definitely not messed with!)

Its call is a loud, honking sound — sometimes compared to a goose or a barking dog

Goofy-looking yet evolutionarily refined for life above the waves

With a shell that tells the story of life on Earth from hundreds of millions of years ago

Ranks among the largest rats in the world

One of the most range-restricted turtles on Earth

Their skin actually darkens, just like a sunburn!

Despite their name,most of their diet makes up of fruits and seeds

You might’ve already seen one in your backyard

They flip the script — literally!

Can accurately spit venom up to 2 meters (8 feet) away

Famously linked to the production of a luxury coffee called kopi luwak

Believed to have naturally spread across much of Asia

Prefer figs to flesh

What does “rare” mean to you? For them, it’s a countdown starting from 27

Protected by Philippine law (RA 9147), which forbids anyone from hunting, capturing, or owning them

Sometimes seen snatching food in mid-air or stealing prey from other birds — a behavior known as kleptoparasitism

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

One of the most impressive but least known eagles in Southeast Asia

The “crowned stealthy prince” of the Philippine archipelago

A critically endangered small crocodile native to the islands of the Philippines

Officially designated as Natural Monument No. 205 and classified as a first-class endangered species in South Korea

It’s the classic white-headed, grey-backed “seagull” of postcards and cartoons

A majestic symbol of resilience and rarity found only in the stunning landscapes of the Philippines

One of the most eye-catching reptiles in the Philippines, often called a “living dragon”

Introduced to many other parts of the world where some populations have become invasive

Once believed to be extinct, this elegant tern was rediscovered in 2000 after going unrecorded for decades

Their shell color can change slightly with age and environment

Has an extraordinary ability to mimic human speech — better than almost any other bird on the planet

For decades, it was thought to be virtually gone, until a small breeding colony was rediscovered

One of the smallest kingfisher species globally, and it exemplifies the concept of “dwarfism”

This bird taps its feet to imitate rain to make the prey reach the surface

This shy, nocturnal predator spends its life in open areas of grassland and cane fields but is rarely seen

Seeing one in the wild is a rare privilege due to its declining numbers and elusive nature

Has a shaggy “beard” of whiskers that hangs from its snout and jaw, giving it a scruffy, almost comical look

Despite its name, this dragon doesn’t fly—it glides using rib-attached skin flaps, soaring effortlessly between trees

Their dark brown fur helps them blend perfectly with the forest, making them hard to spot in the wild

Their warts aren’t just for show; they’re believed to provide protection during fights

A sizeable wild pig found only in the Philippines, still smaller than the closely-related species of bearded pig of Indonesia