The DENR National Capital Region through its East Field Office (EFO), retrieved a Philippine Nightjar (Caprimulgus manillensis) at the Institute of Civil Engineering Building, UP Diliman Campus in Quezon City on Tuesday, 18 May 2021.

The presence of the bird, which appeared injured, was reported by a concerned netizen to the regional office. The EFO immediately dispatched a team to retrieve the bird and bring it to the Biodiversity Management Bureau’s Wildlife Rescue Center in Quezon City for treatment and rehabilitation.

The Philippine Nightjar is a medium-sized nocturnal bird endemic to the Philippines. It has long wings but short legs and very short bills. These birds are most active in the evening and feed on moths and other large flying insects. They nest on the ground and perch along a branch during the daytime to conceal their presence.

The bird is known as “Tukaro” in Tagalog and “Tungkawo” or “Tagolilong” in Visayas. Their range is wide and extends to all three major island groupings of the Philippines. Because of this, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the bird as a species of Least Concern. Still, they are vulnerable to habitat destruction as a result of deforestation and land conversion.

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