Mindoro Bleeding-Heart Pigeon Spotted in Philippines

The Mindoro bleeding-heart pigeon (Gallicolumba platenae) is a critically endangered ground-dwelling pigeon endemic to the Philippine island of Mindoro. A remote camera trap photographed the species in the Puerto Galera rainforest in August 2026, and the first confirmed photographic record in 20 years was announced on 3 September 2026.

Species Profile

The Mindoro bleeding-heart pigeon belongs to the family Columbidae, which includes pigeons and doves. The species is known for its ground-dwelling habit and the distinctive red patch on the breast that gives bleeding-heart pigeons their common name. Endemic species are found naturally in only one geographic area, and this pigeon is restricted to Mindoro in the Philippines.

Rediscovery Record

The last confirmed physical record before 2026 was made in December 2005 near Sablayan Prison, when an individual was caught in a snare, photographed, and released. In August 2026, camera traps placed under the Mindoro Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Programme recorded the bird at an elevation above 900 metres in the Iraya Mangyan ancestral domain.

Conservation Context

The species was added in early 2026 to the Search for Lost Birds list, which tracks species not verified for long periods. The rediscovery involved researchers John Bibar and Joshua Manila of the Center for Conservation Innovation PH Inc., along with Iraya patrollers Alex, Melenciano, Cristito, Jay, and Sonnyboy.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Mindoro bleeding-heart pigeon is classified as critically endangered.
• The scientific name of the species is Gallicolumba platenae.
• Puerto Galera is associated with a UNESCO biosphere reserve status.
• An audio recording tentatively linked to the species was made in 2016, but it remains unverified.

Ornithology and Habitat

Ornithology is the branch of zoology that studies birds. Ground-dwelling pigeons usually forage on the forest floor, and forest loss, hunting, and trapping are common threats to such species in tropical islands.

Protected Area Terminology

A biosphere reserve is a site recognised under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme for conservation, sustainable use, and research. The Iraya Mangyan ancestral domain is a traditional indigenous territory on Mindoro, and ancestral domains are recognised in the Philippines under indigenous rights frameworks.